Imperial Theatres
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Imperial Theatres of Russian Empire ( rus, Императорские театры Российской империи) was a theatrical organization financed by the Imperial exchequer and managed by a single directorate headed with a director; was pertain to the
Ministry of the Imperial Court The Ministry of the Imperial Court (russian: Министерство императорского двора) was established in Russia in 1826, and embraced in one institution all the former separate branches of the Court administration. The Min ...
from 1742. The system operated in
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
before the
October revolution The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment ...
along with numerous private particular and public theatres. It has integrated opera, ballet and drama companies in
Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
(the capital of the country at that time) and
Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
, two theatrical schools for raising of artistes and numerous buildings and opera houses in these cities.


History

In 1803 the system included Italian Opera of impresario
Antonio Casassi Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 40 ...
and its
Maly Theatre The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres: * The Maly Theatre (Moscow), also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow (founded in 1756 and given its own building in 1824) * The Maly Thea ...
building (1801, replaced by
Alexandrinsky Theatre The Alexandrinsky Theatre (russian: Александринский театр) or National Drama Theatre of Russia is a theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Alexandrinsky Theatre was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial tr ...
in 1832). In 1806 by a decree of Emperor
Alexander I Alexander I may refer to: * Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon 495–454 BC * Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus * Pope Alexander I (died 115), early bishop of Rome * Pope Alexander I of Alexandria (died 320s), patriarch of ...
was established a division of ''Imperial Theatres'' in Moscow. In 1809 under the Direction of Imperial Theatres there were seven different theatre companies (ballet, 2 of a Russian theatre, 3 of a French theatre and 1 of a German drama theatre) and at least 10 theatre buildings in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and its surroundings. In 1905 there were six public Imperial Theatres in Russia ( Alexandrinsky, Mariinsky, Mikhailovsky and Maly in Saint Petersburg, Maly and Bolshoi in Moscow) plus court
Hermitage Theatre The Hermitage Theatre ( rus, Эрмитажный Театр, Èrmitážnyj Teátr, ɪrʲmʲɪˈtaʐnɨj tʲɪˈatər) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of five Hermitage Museum, Hermitage buildings lining the Palace Embankment of the Neva Riv ...
and used during the summer.


Theatre buildings


In Saint Petersburg

*
Hermitage Theatre The Hermitage Theatre ( rus, Эрмитажный Театр, Èrmitážnyj Teátr, ɪrʲmʲɪˈtaʐnɨj tʲɪˈatər) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of five Hermitage Museum, Hermitage buildings lining the Palace Embankment of the Neva Riv ...
: Was built in 1783—1787 by architect
Giacomo Quarenghi Giacomo Quarenghi (; rus, Джа́комо Кваре́нги, Džákomo Kvaréngi, ˈdʐakəmə kvɐˈrʲenʲɡʲɪ; 20 or 21 September 1744) was an Italian architect who was the foremost and most prolific practitioner of neoclassical architectu ...
for Empress
Catherine II , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...
on the base of the of
Peter the Great Peter I ( – ), most commonly known as Peter the Great,) or Pyotr Alekséyevich ( rus, Пётр Алексе́евич, p=ˈpʲɵtr ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ, , group=pron was a Russian monarch who ruled the Tsardom of Russia from t ...
. Attended by members of Imperial family, ambassadors, courtiers and other officials, it was not open to the public. *
Bolshoi Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...
(Kamenny Theatre). : The ''Stone Theatre'', was built in 1775—1783; initial project by Antonio Rinaldi was finished by other architects. In 1802—1805 it was rebuilt by Thomas de Thomon and renamed the ''Bolshoi'' (big one) to distinguish from ''Maly'' (small one). Burned down in 1811, then being restored and open in 1818 (Thomon died in 1813 after an accidental fall from the scaffolding of the theatre). Was enlarged in 1835—1836 from three up to five circles by architect
Alberto Cavos Alberto Cavos (Russified to Albert Katerinovich Kavos, russian: Альберт Катеринович Кавос, December 22, 1800 – May 22, 1863) was a Russian–Italian architect best known for his theatre designs, the builder of the Mariinsk ...
. Before 1860 was used both for opera and ballet performances; from 1860 when ''
Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...
'' was built just opposite of it, was used mostly for ballets. In 1886 building was transmitted to the
Russian Musical Society The Russian Musical Society (RMS) (russian: Русское музыкальное общество) was the first music school in Russia open to the general public. It was launched in 1859 by the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna and Anton Rubinstei ...
; in 1896 it was completely rebuilt by architect for dispose the
Saint Petersburg Conservatory The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory (russian: Санкт-Петербургская государственная консерватория имени Н. А. Римского-Корсакова) (formerly known as th ...
. *
Maly Theatre The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres: * The Maly Theatre (Moscow), also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow (founded in 1756 and given its own building in 1824) * The Maly Thea ...
: The ''Small Theatre'' was built in 1801 by architect
Vincenzo Brenna Vincenzo Brenna (1747Lanceray, p. 37, states birth year as 1745. Contemporary historians (Dmitry Shvidkovsky) agree on 1747 (Shvidkovsky, p. 293) – May 17, 1820) was an Italian architect and painter who was the house architect of Paul I of Russ ...
for Italian impresario
Antonio Casassi Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 40 ...
and his Italian Opera. In 1803 it was included into the system of Imperial Theatres. In 1828-1832 on its place instead of old wooden opera house
Alexandrinsky Theatre The Alexandrinsky Theatre (russian: Александринский театр) or National Drama Theatre of Russia is a theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Alexandrinsky Theatre was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial tr ...
was built. *
Alexandrinsky Theatre The Alexandrinsky Theatre (russian: Александринский театр) or National Drama Theatre of Russia is a theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Alexandrinsky Theatre was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial tr ...
: Was built in 1828—1832 by architect Carlo Rossi to replace 1801 ''Maly Theatre'' building by
Vincenzo Brenna Vincenzo Brenna (1747Lanceray, p. 37, states birth year as 1745. Contemporary historians (Dmitry Shvidkovsky) agree on 1747 (Shvidkovsky, p. 293) – May 17, 1820) was an Italian architect and painter who was the house architect of Paul I of Russ ...
. Named after the wife of Nicholas I Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Was used for drama performances of a Russian theatre. *
Mikhailovsky Theatre The Mikhailovsky Theatre (russian: Миха́йловский теа́тр) is one of Russia's oldest opera and ballet houses. It was founded in 1833 and is situated in a historical building on 1, Arts Square in Saint Petersburg. It is named ...
: Was built in 1833 by architects
Alexander Brullov Alexander Pavlovich Brullov (, spelled Brulleau until 1822, when the family name was changed according to Russian pronunciation, sometimes also spelled Brulloff; 29 November 1798 – 9 January 1877) was a Russian artist associated with Russian ...
and
Aleksey Gornostayev Alexey Maksimovich Gornostaev (russian: link=no, Алексей Максимович Горностаев; February 18, 1808 – December 18, 1862) was a Russian architect, notable as a pioneer in Russian Revival, the builder of Valaam Monastery ...
, reconstructed in 1859 by
Alberto Cavos Alberto Cavos (Russified to Albert Katerinovich Kavos, russian: Альберт Катеринович Кавос, December 22, 1800 – May 22, 1863) was a Russian–Italian architect best known for his theatre designs, the builder of the Mariinsk ...
. Named after the younger brother of Nicholas I Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich. Was used for drama and musical performances of a French theatre, held guest performers from abroad and some opera stagings. * : Wooden theatre in
Krasnoye Selo Krasnoye Selo (russian: Кра́сное Село́, lit. ''Red village''). Г. П.  Смолицкая. "Топонимический словарь Центральной России". "Армада-Пресс", 2002 is a munic ...
30 kilometers away from Saint Petersburg, summer military capital of the Russian Empire at that time. Was built in 1851 by architect
Alberto Cavos Alberto Cavos (Russified to Albert Katerinovich Kavos, russian: Альберт Катеринович Кавос, December 22, 1800 – May 22, 1863) was a Russian–Italian architect best known for his theatre designs, the builder of the Mariinsk ...
. Used for summer performances attended by
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
and members of Imperial family. *
Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...
: Was built in 1859—1860 by
Alberto Cavos Alberto Cavos (Russified to Albert Katerinovich Kavos, russian: Альберт Катеринович Кавос, December 22, 1800 – May 22, 1863) was a Russian–Italian architect best known for his theatre designs, the builder of the Mariinsk ...
to replace private ''Equestrian Circus Theatre'' built in 1847—1848 by the same architect opposite the ''
Bolshoi Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...
'' and burnt down on January 26, 1859. Named after the wife of Alexander II Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Was used for opera performances; after the 1883—1886 reconstruction (architect
Victor Schröter Victor Alexandrovich Schröter (russian: Виктор Александрович Шрётер; 1839–1901) was a prominent Russian architect of German ethnicity. Career Schröter was born 27 April 1839, in St. Petersburg of Baltic Germans, Balti ...
supervised by
Nicholas Benois Nicholas Benois (russian: link=no, Никола́й Лео́нтьевич Бенуа́; 13 July 1813 – 23 December 1898) was an Imperial Russian architect who worked in Peterhof and other suburbs of St Petersburg. Biography Benois was born i ...
) also held ballet performances.


In Moscow

''Imperial Theatres'' in Moscow were organized in 1806 by a decree of Emperor
Alexander I Alexander I may refer to: * Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon 495–454 BC * Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus * Pope Alexander I (died 115), early bishop of Rome * Pope Alexander I of Alexandria (died 320s), patriarch of ...
. * : The ''New Imperial (Arbat) Theatre'' was built in 1807—1808 by order of Alexander I by architect Carlo Rossi, open on April 13th 1808. Situated on
Arbatskaya Square Arbatskaya Square or Arbat Square () is one of the oldest squares of Moscow, located on the junction of Gogolevsky Boulevard, Znamenka Street and Arbat Gates Square (in 1925–1993 – part of Arbatskaya Square). The square is home to the Arbats ...
it was one of the first large buildings in Moscow that has been burnt down during the 1812 fire. *
Maly Theatre The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres: * The Maly Theatre (Moscow), also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow (founded in 1756 and given its own building in 1824) * The Maly Thea ...
* : The ''New Imperial Theatre'' organized in 1898 by
Aleksandr Lensky Aleksandr Pavlovich Lensky (Russian ''Александр Павлович Ленский''; 1 (13) October 1847 in Kishinev – 13 (25) October26 October according to other reports 1908 in Moscow) was a Russian actor, director and theatrical ed ...
for young actors' performances was functioned till 1907. The building of on Theatre Square (next to the Bolshoi and opposite the Maly theatre) was rented for it.


Theatre schools

All children accepted to the Imperial Theatre schools were taken for full state maintenance, lived at the boarding school and could not be excluded from institution until the end of the studies. They were trained firstly for a career in ballet (as most difficult to achieve), then in drama and music. The least gifted were switched to training as props makers, theatrical operators etc. After the
revolution In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
both of the schools were divided according to the type of training. Now these are
Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a school of classical ballet in St Petersburg, Russia. Established in 1738 during the reign of Empress Anna, the academy was known as the Imperial Ballet School until the Soviet era, when, after a brief hi ...
and
Russian State Institute of Performing Arts The Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (russian: Российский государственный институт сценических искусств), formerly known as St Petersburg Theatre Arts Academy, formerly Leningrad State ...
in Saint Petersburg and
Moscow State Academy of Choreography The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии), commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ball ...
and
Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School The Mikhail Semyonovich Shchepkin Higher Theatre School (Institute) is a drama school associated with the Maly Theatre (Moscow), State Academic Maly Theatre in Moscow. It was established in 1809 by decree of Alexander I of Russia. History Sin ...
in Moscow.


In Saint Petersburg


In Moscow

Moscow theatre school was organized in
Moscow Orphanage The Moscow Orphanage or Foundling Home (russian: Воспитательный дом в Москве) was an ambitious project conceived by Catherine the Great and Ivan Betskoy, in the early 1760s. This idealistic experiment of the Age of Enlight ...
in 1773 by decree of Empress
Catherine II , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...
. From 1784 it was managed by private
Petrovsky Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...
which in 1789 became the property of the ''
Moscow Orphanage The Moscow Orphanage or Foundling Home (russian: Воспитательный дом в Москве) was an ambitious project conceived by Catherine the Great and Ivan Betskoy, in the early 1760s. This idealistic experiment of the Age of Enlight ...
's Guardianship Council''. The school became part of the state imperial system in 1806, when Moscow division of ''Imperial Theatres'' was organized. In the 1820s Moscow theatre school was situated at Bludov's house (
Povarskaya Street Povarskaya Street (russian: Поварская улица), known from 1924–1991 as ''Vorovsky Street'' (улица Воровского), is a radial street in the center of Moscow, Russia, connecting Arbat Square on Boulevard Ring with Kudri ...
13, now
Supreme Court of Russia The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (russian: links=no, Верховный суд Российской Федерации, Verkhovny sud Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is a court within the judiciary of Russia and the court of last resort in ...
). After 1830 the school along with Moscow Direction of Imperial theatres moved into the (
Kuznetsky Most Kuznetsky Most ( rus, Кузне́цкий Мост, p=kʊˈzʲnʲet͡skʲɪj ˈmost) is a street in central Moscow, that runs from Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street to Lubyanka Street. The name, literally ''Blacksmith's Bridge'', refers to the 18th- ...
1, now ). In 1863 school moved into the 1822 building by architect
Joseph Bové Joseph Bové (russian: Осип Иванович Бове, ''Osip Ivanovich Bove'', also known during his lifetime as Joseph Jean-Baptiste Charles de Beauvais; 4 November 1784 — 28 June 1834, all n.s.) was an Italian-Russian neoclassical ...
situated next to the
Maly Theatre The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres: * The Maly Theatre (Moscow), also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow (founded in 1756 and given its own building in 1824) * The Maly Thea ...
(
Neglinnaya Street Neglinnaya Street (Russian: Неглинная улица) is a street inside the Garden Ring of Moscow, Russia. It runs from the Bolshoi Theatre to the Trubnaya Square. The street was paved over the underground Neglinnaya River in 1819. Throu ...
6/2, now
Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School The Mikhail Semyonovich Shchepkin Higher Theatre School (Institute) is a drama school associated with the Maly Theatre (Moscow), State Academic Maly Theatre in Moscow. It was established in 1809 by decree of Alexander I of Russia. History Sin ...
; Bolshoi Ballet School has stayed at the same building till 1968).


References

{{Expand Russian, Императорские театры Российской империи, date=October 2018 1732 establishments in Europe Theatre in the Russian Empire 1917 disestablishments in Russia