The State Academic Mariinsky Theatre, the jewel of St. Petersburg, is the largest musical theatre of opera and ballet, known not only in Russia but also beyond its borders. The theatre is famous for its magnificent productions, performances by world stars, and grand premieres. Its history is closely linked to the history of the country, starting from the late 18th century when Russia began to draw closer to Europe, adopting its cultural traditions, including theatre.

In 1783, Catherine II established a theatrical troupe for dramatic and opera performances at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre on Carousel Square in St. Petersburg. In this fashionable and technically equipped building, foreign actors invited from Italy performed, while the Russian troupe rarely gave performances.

The wife of Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna, patronized the fine arts. Her personal troupe performed at the Circus Theatre opposite the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre. In 1859, on the site of the burned-down Circus Theatre, the Italian architect Albert Cavos built a new theatre named after Maria Alexandrovna. The theatre quickly became popular thanks to the troupe of the emperor's wife.

In 1886, a conservatory was built on the site of the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, and all performances were moved to the Mariinsky Theatre, which opened with the opera 'Life of the Tsar.' On its stage shone such celebrities as Fyodor Stravinsky, Medea and Nikolai Figner, Maria Slavina and Leonid Sobinov, Fyodor Chaliapin and Sofia Preobrazhenskaya, Matilda Kshesinskaya and Rudolf Nureyev. The decorations were created by Konstantin Korovin, Alexander Benois, and Alexander Golovin.

The theatre building in the neoclassical style impresses with its beauty. It is located on Theatre Square. In 1885, architect Viktor Shreter added a three-story wing for workshops and rehearsal halls to the building. The facade became more monumental, and a new hall appeared under the roof. A small tower on the dome conceals a ventilation pipe.

The auditorium of the theatre is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its original decor has been preserved to this day: gilding, stucco decorations, and drapery in sea-green color create a special atmosphere. The decor of the Imperial Box has been restored, where during the Soviet era there was an emblem of the sickle and hammer, and in the 1990s, the imperial monogram was returned.

The curtain, which has become a symbol of the theatre, was created in 1914 by Alexander Golovin, using the technique of painting and appliqué. It repeats the pattern of Empress Maria Alexandrovna's dress. A three-tiered bronze chandelier, created in 1860, illuminates the hall with bright light. Every year it is lowered for cleaning and lamp replacement.

The ceiling of the hall is adorned with a ceiling lamp depicting 12 dancing nymphs and portraits of Russian playwrights. The hall of Alexander Golovin, located under the roof, is used for creating decorations.

The orchestra pit surprised restorers in 1970 when a pile of crystal shards, used to improve acoustics, was found under the floor. The bell, sounding in the operas 'Boris Godunov' and 'Khovanshchina,' was raised from the bottom of the Kryukov Canal and gifted to the theatre.

After the revolution, the theatre became state-owned and received academic status in 1919. In 1934, it was named Kirov after the deceased first secretary of the Leningrad regional committee. During the war, the theatre was evacuated to Perm, and artists performed in military units and hospitals. In the 1950s to 70s, ballets that brought worldwide fame were staged here: 'Spartacus,' 'The Twelve,' 'The Stone Flower,' 'Leningrad Symphony.'

In 1939, the theatre was awarded the Order of Lenin, and in 1983, the Order of the October Revolution. Since 1988, Valery Gergiev has been the artistic director. In 1992, the theatre was returned to its former name, Mariinsky.

With Gergiev's arrival, new venues emerged. In 2006, a concert hall opened at 20 Pisariev Street, on the site of the former decoration workshops. After a fire in the early 2000s, it was decided to build a new hall while preserving part of the facade. The complex is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Concerts by foreign orchestras and renowned performers such as Christian Thielemann, Anna Netrebko, Denis Matsuev, and Sergey Leiferkus take place on the hall's stage. Festivals and exhibitions are also held here.

The new theatre wing opened in 2013 at 34 Decembrists Street. Despite criticism of the architecture, the interior meets modern requirements. The auditorium accommodates up to 2000 people and provides excellent acoustics and comfort. The stage consists of a main stage, rehearsal stage, and rear stage, as well as rehearsal halls for artists.

The building features an open terrace with a view of the city, accessible in the summer. Opera and ballet productions are staged on the stage, as well as concerts, lectures, and film screenings in chamber halls.