Jewels ballet at the Mariinsky
The Bolshoi Theatre is the top place in Moscow to see a ballet. One key thing to note when attempting to buy tickets to a ballet here is that you have to buy them way in advance. Purchasing tickets 1-2 weeks before the playdate won't cut it. I waited until we got our visas before I attempted to buy tickets but by then, every ballet at the Bolshoi was already sold out. A couple of seats did became available for Romeo and Juliet a couple of days before but each cost a whopping 8.000 rubles (that's more than P10,00) so we decided not to watch. We did visit the Bolshoi Theatre while we were in Moscow and took some photos from outside.
The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow
The Mariinsky Theatre is the main place in St. Petersburg for musical theatre. During the Soviet era, it was called the Kirov Theatre and this is actually where Filipina prima ballerina Lisa Macuja developed her exceptional skills as a ballet dancer.
The lovely green facade of the original Mariinsky Theatre
My mom and I were choosing between two ballets: Jewels and The Young Lady and the Hooligan. We opted for the longer ballet, Jewels, but as I was checking the performance information, I noticed that it would be showing in the Mariinsky II, the newly-built modern-styled theater right next to the original Mariinsky. Both my mom and I were interested in watching a show in the older theater so when I saw that The Young Lady and the Hooligan would be staged there, I decided to get the most inexpensive seats for that show as well.
The old Mariinsky (left) and the Mariinsky II (right) stand on opposite sides
of a canal and showcase a contrast in architectural styles
Jewels is an award-winning ballet that features impressive choreography. It is comprised of three separate ballets, all of which are named after jewels. The costumes of the dancers appropriately match the jewel they represent: Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds.
Scene from the Rubies suite of the Jewels ballet
The Mariinsky II looks very modern and thus, out-of-place in a section of the city that is filled with old architecture. I have to say that it has a resplendent amber-inspired interior (see the left side of the photo below). If I remember correctly, it was on the third level that several costumes from past ballets were on display for people to see and enjoy.
Inside the Mariinsky II
The theater is supposed to feature cutting edge technology that would allow sets to be very quickly and seamlessly changed; apparently, up to six shows with different sets can be shown here in one day. The layout of the seats was also supposed to have been done in such a way that everyone in the audience can see everything on stage. The seating area, however, is not as luxurious as I was expecting of a theater of such great significance. It kind of reminded me of the RCBC theater in Makati. I will say though that we were quite lucky to watch a ballet here because it opened on May 2 which meant we got to enjoy a show here on its 6th day of being open. Talk about good timing!
Mariinsky II Theatre
The Young Lady and the Hooligan featured Elena Yevseyeva and Ilya Kuznetsov, both of them award-winning performers who have gained prominence for their skill and artistry. Watching them perform, I could completely understand why. They were both exceptional!
The Young Lady and the Hooligan
This ballet lasted about an hour but it was still a great experience, made even more wonderful by the fact that we were enjoying this performance in a historically and culturally significant venue. While we sat at the highest level, we did get front row seats in that section which gave us an unobstructed view of the stage and the old but still magnificent interior of the theater.
Inside the original Mariinsky Theatre
As expected, both performances we saw were sensational. The lead dancers and soloists were flawless and their impeccable technique and incredible expression were on full display. That we got to see two shows in two different theaters fully rounded out our incredible Russian experience.
Ready to watch the show
Two things surprised me though. First, while camera use is not supposed to be allowed inside the theater during a show, you could see so many people unabashedly taking photos and even videos! I ended up taking my cue from them and snapping a few photos myself during the performances but only within the first minute or so and also during curtain call and it was never with a flash. I don't understand how so many people kept taking pictures with flash which could so easily distract the dancers (thankfully, no one seemed to get thrown off.). The second thing I noticed was the lack of standing ovations. Maybe stellar performances at the ballet are so commonplace here in Russia that people are not that bothered standing up to show their adulation. Maybe here it's the curtain call that is the true sign and the highest form of respect. Still, I felt that the leads and soloists of both shows deserved standing ovations.
All suited up
The Bolshoi website recommends getting dressed up when watching a show and you will indeed see a lot of people in the audience, especially the women, dressed to the nines. There were quite a few people, however, who came in just wearing a shirt and jeans. You can buy tickets for the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky online through their respective official websites. You can also select which seat you want to get. Of course, while my mom and I focused specifically on ballet, there are lots of other performances (such as operas and orchestras) that are staged at both theaters. Make sure you take the time to see a show in one of these venues when you visit Moscow and/or St. Petersburg.
Next post: Final thoughts.
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