Please book the tickets on the website just after you confirmed your flight. The performance is easily fully booked. We watch a ballet dance there. The theatre itself is beautiful and the performance is good. However, since they do not have English leaflet and most of the audience is Russian. You just do not what is going on.
After 232 years, the Mariinsky still is the gold standard by which all other ballet is measured. I love going into the old building that exudes the classical performances of days past, and now the new stage has plenty to offer in terms of acoustics, lighting and talent of the performers. Be it opera, ballet or a chamber concert, it will leave you breathless and wanting to come back again and again.
I saw one of the best "Swan Lakes" I have ever seen when I visited. It is my favorite ballet company in the world.
Balcony seats are still small wicker-seated chairs placed close together, but the Theatre has over a dozen small cafes in all parts of the building, so you don't have to worry about rushing to a main lobby for drinks or a bite to eat. Excellent choices at cafes, and every seat has a fantastic view. Highly recommended.
This theater was built in 1836 and still has the charm of that era. I saw a delightful Giselle performance and was impressed also by the knowledge of the audience which applauded during the performance when they were offered the superlative dancing. The only downside was the narrow hallways and understaffed cloak rooms which after the performance cause an ugly chaos and very very long waits for our coats.
We went to a ballet in the Marlinsky Theatre 2 in St Petersburg - Beautiful views from all areas of the theatre - We were actually late and could not take our seats on the ground floor until the break - We were seated up the top of the theatre and still had a great view
. . . I would have killed for to see but our tour missed the season's start by 2 days. Six months before we left for Russia I starting checking the Mariinskiy theater's website. So was very disappointed not to be able to go inside. Backstage tours of Mariinskiy I were prohibitively expensive so I just learned what I could on line. Valery Gergiev is world famous and I have seen him conduct operas at the Met--so I was doubly disappointed that I could not see him in action in his theater where he is the General Artistic Director. There is a very interesting video of both buildings on line and equally interesting essays in the New York Times regarding the building of Mariinskiy II. When we actually drove by M II our St Petersburg guide called it a shopping mall, relating that most citizens of the city did not like the new building. I thought they were both beautiful--certainly different from each other. Will be sure to visit next time during the season as I am convinced Russia does ballet and opera better than most.
Had the chance to see one of Balanchine's original works - Jewels - which was originally choreographed and shown in NYC in the late 1960's. Worth the opportunity to see a wonderful ballet in a beautiful venue.
The overall artisctic level of orchestra conduction, scenery, light, choreography and vocal is astonishing for the overwhelming majority of performances. Add a diversity of repertoir, stunning beauty of historical venue and very reasonable prices (if compared to Covent Garden, La Scala, Opera Garnier, Wiener Staatsoper and even Bolshoy Theater in Moscow) - and you get perhaps the world's greatest opera and ballet theatre!So-called "Mariinsky-2" (modern building) is highly controversial in terms of style and architecture. Choose the main stage instead.Если сравнить разнообразие репертуара, размах постановок и ценовую политику Мариинки с Венской/Миланской/Парижской операми или даже московским Большим театром, убеждаешься - из всех великих оперных театров этот - величайший)На новую сцену (т.н. "Мариинку-2") правда, не стоит соваться людям впечатлительным, остро переживающим надругательство над хорошим вкусом в архитектуре и сторонникам "РосПила" - на собственно постановке сосредоточиться не удастся.
Splendid performance!During three hours, attend one of the most beautiful ballet of the world in a magnificent place.The technique of the dancers is of flawless perfection ...Everything comes together for an incredible evening.I advise to book online as soon as tickets are available for sale.