Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
The Mikhailovsky Theater, situated in the very heart of St Petersburg’s historical center, is one of the most renowned theaters in Russia. You can enjoy classic opera and ballet performances as well as some unique contemporary works while relaxing in its opulent imperial interiors, which rival those of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theaters.
In 1831, Tsar Nicholas I decreed that a new theater would be founded on Karlo Rossi’s historic Arts Square. Architect Alexander Bryullov (brother of the painter Karl Bryullov) erected a modest Neoclassical theater which harmoniously complemented Rossi’s ensemble and the stately Mikhailovsky Palace at its centre. The Mikhailovsky’s curtain rose for the first time on 8th November 1833 – the name day of Nicholas’ youngest brother, Grand Duke Mikhail, after whom the theater and palace were named.
Behind the relatively modest façade the Mikhailovsky Theater boasted incredible opulence, adorned with silver gilding, red velvet, crystal chandeliers, and paintings. Its grandeur only increased following an expansion by Albert Kavos (architect of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theaters) in 1859, which included a spectacular ceiling painting by Italian artist Giovanni Buzatto entitled ‘The Victory of the Forces of Education and Sciences over the Dark Forces of Ignorance’, which remains preserved to this day.
Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
As the Mariinsky remained the principal imperial theater of opera and ballet and the Alexandrinsky was the main drama theater, the Mikhailovsky Theater neither had its own troupe nor a specific repertoire. However, this allowed for a wide range of performances to be held there by French, Russian, German, and Italian performers, including opera, ballet, theater and vaudeville. The Mikhailovsky was home to the French Opera Company of the Imperial Theaters for 85 years, which dominated the repertoire and sourced its talent from the most fashionable theaters of Paris.
Did you know? The Mikhailovsky was even known as the ‘House of French Culture’, as St Petersburg’s high society frequented it to get acquainted with French culture, brush up on their language skills, and catch up on the latest Parisian gossip.
Some of the most significant performers and conductors in Imperial Russia and Europe took to the Mikhailovsky’s stage, such as opera singer Fyodor Chalyapin, ballerina Mathilde Kshesinskaya and German composer Johann Strauss. Performances were attended by the imperial family, the aristocracy, and notable cultural figures including the likes of Pushkin, Tchaikovsky, and Tolstoy.
Following the Revolution foreign performers were expelled from the Mikhailovsky Theater, which was renamed as the ‘State Academic Theater of Comic Opera’. Yet this did not spell the end for the theater, which finally acquired its own permanent opera and ballet company and flourished under the leadership of lead conductor Samuil Samosud and dancer and choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov. The theater soon emerged as a ‘laboratory of Soviet opera’, and a number of world-famous performances were premiered there including Dmitry Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtensk District, Sergey Profokiev’s War and Peace, and Vsevolod Meyerhold’s Queen of Spades.
Since 1989, the classics of 19th century opera and ballet have once again assumed their leading role on the theater’s stage. The Mikhailovsky Theater operates under the direction of Vladimir Kekhman, who is also artistic director of Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater, and chief conductor Alexander Solovyov. Thanks to the efforts of Kekhman the Mikhailovsky company has toured worldwide, including in Japan, Canada and England – although the full experience, of course, is best seen from the magnificent Mikhailovsky Theater itself.
Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
The Mikhailovsky Theater ballet troupe is led by the Spanish artistic director Nacho Duato and choreographer Mikhail Messerer. The audience can watch world favourites such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, admire the masterful choreography of 19th-century ballet master Marius Petipa in Giselle and Don Quixote, and enjoy a mix of modern and classic with Duato’s revised choreography of renowned ballets Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Duato has also devised a number of contemporary one-act ballets. The Mikhailovsky ballet company is world-renowned, winning the 2013 title of "Best Foreign Ballet Campaign" from the British Circle of Critics.
Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
The opera company of the Mikhailovsky Theater is directed by Mikhail Vorobyov and performs a mixture of European and Russian classics including Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Queen of Spades and Iolanta, as well as Mozart’s Magic Flute and Figaro’s Wedding, Verdi’s Aida and La Travita, and Puccini’s Tosca and Manon Lescaut.
Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
Before watching a performance at the Mikhailovsky Theater, why not visit the in-house exhibition chronicling its rich 188-year history. The collection is comprised of posters, sketches of scenery, costumes, portraits of important theater figures, historical photographs, and models of the theater.
Photo from https://mikhailovsky.ru/
It is simpler and cheaper to purchase tickets for the Mikhailovsky Theater than for the Mariinsky or Bolshoi. E-tickets can be presented on a device to the theater attendants, and tickets are transferable. If you’re a lover of opera and ballet then you can purchase a subscription for four performances at a discount of 20%. Seeing a performance at the Mikhailovsky is very reasonably priced; even a front-row ticket for an evening performance of Swan Lake costs just 5,000 roubles.
You can buy tickets from the official website, box office, or licensed third-party vendors.
There is no strict dress code for attending the Mikhailovsky Theater. An acceptable outfit for a man would be a nice shirt, smart trousers and shoes, and for a woman, smart trousers and top or an elegant dress, with heels or nice boots. If you wish to wear full evening dress, you will certainly not look out of place – attending a performance at the Mikhailovsky is a real occasion, and Russians take real pride in their appearance. For more tips on what to pack for a trip to Russia, check out our article.
Photo from https://peterburg-center.ru/
Russian Museum: the world’s largest collection of Russian artwork, located in the Mikhailovsky Palace on Arts Square.
Nevsky Prospekt: St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare, lined with beautiful buildings and perfect for strolling, shopping and exploring.
Photo from https://fonwall.ru/
Church on Spilled Blood: a magnificent cathedral built to commemorate Tsar Alexander III’s assassination on this very spot, with gilded and enamelled domes and an interior entirely covered in mosaic.
State Hermitage: the second largest art museum in the world, located in the Winter Palace and several other buildings along Palace Embankment.
Essential information for visitors
Arts Square, 1, Saint-Petersburg, 191186
Website: https://mikhailovsky.ru/en/
Email: boxoffice@mikhailovsky.ru
Phone: +7 (812) 595-43-05 (box office)
Nearest metro: Nevsky Prospekt (440m)
Opening hours: 10:00-21:00 daily
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