St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre

St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre

The Mariinsky Theatre (Russian: Маринскийтеатр), formerly known as the State Opera and Ballet Academy from 1920 to 1935 and the Kirov Theatre from 1935 to 1992, is a historic opera and ballet theatre located in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since 1988, the director of the theater has been Valery Gergiev, and previously Yuri Temirkanov served as the director of the theater. The original ballet and opera theater in St. Petersburg was a wooden structure. In addition, there is an Hermitage Theater outside the Winter Palace, which was used by the Tsar to invite nobles to watch performances.