Before the Revolution intellectuals and artists flooded into the city and it quickly became Russia's cultural capital. St. Petersburg’s aim, as dictated by Peter the Great, was to bring all of Russia into the sphere of European enlightenment. Today, despite the destruction caused during the decades of Soviet rule. St. Petersburg is characterized by music. It is most obvious by the number of persons carrying instrument cases on the subway and by the proliferation of street bands playing music that ranges from classical to rock. Historically. Liszt. Rachmaninov. Rubenstein and Bartók performed in St. Petersburg and Russians ballet artists have gained international prominence throughout history.
More than 20 professional theatres are in St. Petersburg. A sampling:
The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre. Teatralnaya Ploschad 1. Founded in 1783, the theatre is the foundation of Russian classical ballet. Features nightly performances of opera or ballet. The Maly Opera and Ballet Theatre, lskusstv Ploschad 1. Operas and ballets, day and evening performances. The Hermitage Theatre. Classical music, opera and ballet. Dvorstovaya Naberzhnaya 34. Bolshoy Philharmonic Hall. Mikhailovshaya Ulitsa 2.
The Musical Theatre of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. Nightly performances. Teatralnaya Ploschad 3. St. Petersburg Opera and Chamber Music Theatre. Galernaya Ulitsa 4-9.
Book tickets early because the theatres are popular.