The year of foundation of the Alexandrinsky theatre. Russian theatrical first-born: the history of the Alexandrinsky Theatre. The secret of the blue upholstery of the hall

Russian State Academic Drama Theatre. A.S. Pushkin - the legendary Alexandrinsky Theater - is the oldest national theater in Russia. It was established by the Senate Decree, signed by the daughter of Peter the Great Empress Elizabeth on August 30, 1756 on the day of St. Alexander Nevsky. It was this theater that became the progenitor of all Russian theaters, and the date of its foundation is the birthday of the Russian professional theater. The establishment of the theater was the beginning of the state policy of the Russian state in the field of theatrical art. For two and a half centuries, the Russian State Drama Theater served as an attribute of Russian statehood. From the day it was founded until 1917, it was the main imperial theater, the fate of which was in the hands of the Russian emperors. In 1832, the Russian State Drama Theater received a magnificent building in the center of Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, designed by the great architect Carl Rossi. This building was named the Alexandrinsky Theater (in honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I Alexandra Feodorovna) and since then the name of the Alexandrinsky Theater has been inextricably linked with the world history of performing arts. The unique complex of the building, with a five-tiered auditorium, a huge stage, palace front foyers, a majestic facade, which has become one of the emblems of the Northern Capital, has become one of the pearls of world architecture registered by UNESCO. The walls of the Alexandrinsky Theater keep the memory of the great figures of the Russian state, politicians, military leaders, cultural figures. A.S. Pushkin, M.Yu. Lermontov, N.V. Gogol, I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, L.N. Tolstoy, A.P. Chekhov, P.I. Tchaikovsky, A.M. Gorchakov, S.Yu. Witte, V.A. Stolypin, K.G. Mannerheim, many crowned heads of European states. It was here, at the Alexandrinsky Theater, that the premieres of almost all the works of Russian dramatic classics from “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboedov to the plays by A.N. Ostrovsky and A.P. Chekhov. The Alexandrinsky Theater is a textbook on the history of Russian theatrical art. It was on this stage that famous Russian actors played - from V. Karatygin and A. Martynov to N. Simonov, N. Cherkasov, V. Merkuriev, I. Gorbachev, B. Freindlich. This stage was adorned with the talents of famous Russian actresses from E. Semenova, M. Savina (the founder of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia), V. Komissarzhevskaya to E. Korchagina-Aleksandrovskaya, E. Time, N. Urgant. Today, such artists as S. Parshin, V. Smirnov, N. Marton, G. Karelina, I. Volkov, P. Semak, S. Smirnova, S. Sytnik, M. Kuznetsova and many other outstanding experienced and young artists.
Over the years, great theater directors Vs. Meyerhold, L. Vivien, G. Kozintsev, G. Tovstonogov, N. Akimov. The performances of the Alexandrinians were included in all the world's theater encyclopedias. Great artists A. Benois, K. Korovin, A. Golovin, N. Altman, outstanding composers A. Glazunov, D. Shostakovich, R. Shchedrin collaborated with the theater.
Since 2003, the artistic director of the theater has been a director with a European name, People's Artist of Russia, laureate of State Prizes Valery Fokin.
Among the great oldest national theaters in Europe - Paris' Comedie Francaise, Vienna's Burgtheater, London's Drewry Lane, Berlin's Deutsches Theater - the Alexandrinsky Theater occupies a place of honor, serving as a symbol of the Russian National Theatre. The theater has unique collections of scenery, costumes, furniture, theatrical props, weapons, the richest museum funds, which can be exhibited both in Russia and abroad in the most prestigious exhibition spaces. During the 2005/2006 season The Alexandrinsky Theater carried out a general reconstruction, as a result of which the historical appearance of the building's interiors was recreated. At the same time, Aleksandrinka has become one of the most advanced stage venues in terms of engineering. The grand opening of the reconstructed Alexandrinsky Theater took place on August 30, 2006 during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the oldest state drama theater in Russia. In the morning, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga blessed the stage and auditorium of the theatre, blessing the assembled actors, directors and theater workers. In the afternoon, the Marble Palace hosted the opening of the exhibition "The Theater of Illustrious Masters", timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Russian theater. The opening of the renovated Alexandrinsky Stage was the culmination of the anniversary celebrations. Among the guests were Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir, Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the North-Western District Ilya Klebanov, Head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoy.
The celebration of this anniversary has become the most important event of the state policy in the field of theatrical art. On the basis of the order of the President of the Russian Federation No. Pr-352 dated 02.03.2004, the order of the Government of Russia dated 12.05.2005 No. 572-r "On the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian State Theater" was issued, in accordance with which the main events were held in Alexandrinsky Theater throughout 2006. In November 2012, the 180th anniversary of the building of the Alexandrinsky Theater was solemnly celebrated. The new stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater was opened on May 15, 2013. The modern unique architectural complex of the New Stage was built according to the project of the St. Petersburg architect Yuri Zemtsov on the site of the former workshops of the theater between Ostrovsky Square and the Fontanka Embankment. The new stage is a multi-level space, including 4 halls of different sizes and a spacious two-level foyer, it is equipped with the most advanced lighting, sound, video and media equipment. The New Stage Media Center - an ideal venue for meetings, master classes and film screenings for 100 seats - has everything you need to organize television-level Internet broadcasts; many events of the New Stage are broadcast on various Internet resources.
The new stage is not only a modern stage platform of the oldest drama theater in the country, which produces 4-5 premieres during the season and hosts more than 120 performances. For three years, the New Stage has developed a reputation as one of the main cultural and educational multidisciplinary centers in St. Petersburg. The New Stage regularly hosts master classes and meetings, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions –– 250 events annually. In the summer of 2016, another venue was opened for the audience on the New Stage - Roof, where meetings, poetry readings, concerts, film screenings are held. In August 2014, the Alexandrinsky Theater was given the status of a National Treasure.
In April 2016, the Alexandrinsky Theater was included in the register of the State Code of Particularly Valuable Cultural Heritage Objects of the Peoples of the Russian Federation.

Name: Russian State Academic Drama Theatre. A. S. Pushkin (Alexandrinsky) (ru), Alexandrinsky Theater / Russian State Pushkin Academy Drama Theater (en)

Other names: Alexandrinsky Theater / Theatre. Pushkin in St. Petersburg / Alexandrinka

Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia)

Creation: 1827 - 1832

Style: Classicism

Architect(s) Story by: Carl Rossi

Architecture of the Alexandria Theater

Source:
G. B. Barkhin “Theatres”
Publishing House of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR
Moscow, 1947

In 1827-1832. In St. Petersburg, one of the most remarkable theaters in Europe for its time in terms of architecture was built according to the design of Rossi - the Alexander Theater - now the Pushkin Theater. On the site of the current square of the Alexandria Theater in 1801, there was a small wooden theater built by Brenna, facing Nevsky Prospekt. In 1811, Thomas de Thomon designed a much larger theater on this site. The design of this theater has been preserved. The building is rectangular in shape with a ten-column portico of the main facade and a huge pediment decorated with sculpture. The square on which the theater at Tomon was designed. has the same opening from Nevsky Prospekt as Rossi. but the building of the theater was set up by Tomon with a much smaller depth from Nevsky than that of Rossi. There is no background closing behind the theater on Thomon's project. In addition, the area of the theater at Thomon loses significantly due to the presence of a deep rounded pocket on it on the right side. The Thomas de Thomon project was not carried out. An attempt to design a theater on this site was made in 1817 by the architect Maudui. Finally, in 1818, the approval of the theater project drawn up by Rossi followed. The exceptional significance of this building for St. Petersburg is not limited to the beautiful architecture of the building itself, but also lies in the amazing architectural environment that Rossi managed to create here in connection with the construction of his theater.

The main significance of the Rossi Theater in the history of theatrical architecture lies mainly in the excellent external architecture of the building. As for the general layout of the Alexandria Theater and the design of the auditorium, in this respect Rossi did not offer anything particularly new in comparison with the best European theaters of his time.

The plan of the Alexandria Theater does not give any significant space to the common areas; all the amenities and all the luxury of finishing are concentrated exclusively on the front rooms. A small vestibule with two staircases shifted from the axis, enclosed in blind cages and designed without much splendor. The marches of these stairs are designed with a width of 2.13 m only to the height of one floor, to the level of the royal box, after which the marches narrow to 1.4 m. Above the vestibule in front of the royal lodge is a front foyer, 6.4 m high; the foyers serving the other tiers, with the same area, have a height of only 4 m. The foyer is cramped for the public, buffets and latrines are inconvenient to use. The auditorium of this theater deserves attention.

The hall seats 1,800 spectators, it is horseshoe-shaped in plan, close to the French curve in outline: half a circle connected to a wide portal by straight segments. Just like in French theaters, the stalls located in front and the semicircular amphitheater in the back of the hall are solved. In addition to the benoir, there are 5 tiers of boxes. The stocks are tilted towards the stage for better visibility. At one time, this technique was recommended by Seghezzi, but this only led to the inconvenience of using lodges due to the slope of the floor and to the fall of the barriers, which was extremely unfavorable for visual perception. The rather flat ceiling of the hall, as well as the architecture of the portal, are of little interest. Very well executed separate drawings of the barriers of the boxes and processing of the central box.

The main interest and significance of the theater is in its external architecture. The Alexandrinsky Theater is one of the most perfect works of Rossi and, in terms of its architecture, is undoubtedly the best theater in Europe. In the center of the front facade there is a loggia and an eight-column portico. The rear facade is solved in the same way, but instead of columns it is removed with pilasters. Side facades with protruding eight-column gable porticos; the building is richly decorated with sculpture. The front and rear facades end with attics characteristic of Russia. The front attic is crowned with a quadriga with four horses. The auditorium and the stage protrude above the total volume of the theater in the form of a parallelepiped. Sculptural groups are installed above the protruding frames of the loggia. The lower part of the building is processed in the form of a rusticated basement floor with a very simply solved entrance door. Lateral porticos form two covered entrances. Under the entablature covering the entire building, there is a wide sculptural frieze of garlands and masks.

In general, the architecture of the theater, with its exceptional unity and integrity, is very rich and varied in details.

Sources:

Art history. Volume five. Art of the 19th century: art of the peoples of Russia, France, England, Spain, USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, Latin America , India, China and other countries. “ART”, Moscow
Ikonnikov A.V., Stepanov G.P. Fundamentals of architectural composition Art, M. 1971
"History of Russian Architecture" edited by S.V. Bezsonova State publishing house of literature on construction and architecture 1951
G. B. Barkhin “Theatres” Publishing House of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR Moscow, 1947
E.B. Novikov "Interior of public buildings (artistic problems)" . - M.: Stroyizdat, 1984. - 272 p., ill.

On September 12, the Alexandrinsky Theater celebrates the 180th anniversary of its walls. In 1832, the troupe moved into one of the most beautiful buildings in the center of St. Petersburg. RIA Novosti publishes a historical note about the house number 6 on Ostrovsky Square.

Alexandrinsky Theater

Russian State Academic Drama Theatre. A.S. Pushkin - Alexandrinsky Theater - is the oldest national theater in Russia. It was established by a Senate Decree signed by Empress Elizabeth on August 30, 1756. It is this theater that is the progenitor of all Russian theaters, and the date of its foundation is the birthday of the Russian professional theater.

Preparation for construction

The territory where the now famous Alexandrinsky Theater was later built belonged to Colonel Anichkov, the builder of the bridge named after him, in the 18th century, and was bought from him by the treasury. There was a garden on this territory, which extended to the present Sadovaya Street.

In 1801, the architect Brenna rebuilt a large wooden pavilion that stood on the site of the present square into a theater, in which the Italian entrepreneur Antonio Casassi organized an Italian opera troupe. This room eventually ceased to satisfy the growing needs of the city, and it was decided to build a new, stone theater. However, the implementation of the idea was postponed due to the unstable situation under Alexander I - military conflicts with Turkey, the war with Napoleon in 1812.

In 1818, the boundaries of the garden were narrowed, and the area formed between the Public Library and the garden of the Anichkov Palace was transferred to the theater directorate.
Karl Rossi in the period from 1816 to 1827 developed a number of projects for the reconstruction and development of this area. All these options included the construction of a city theater on the square. The final version of the project was approved on April 5, 1828, in the same year the construction of the theater building began.

On September 12, 1832, the Russian State Drama Theater received a magnificent building in the center of Nevsky.

House number 6

This building was named the Alexandrinsky Theater (in honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna). Since then, the name of the Alexandrinsky Theater has been inextricably linked with the world history of performing arts. The unique complex of buildings, with a five-tiered auditorium, a huge stage, palace front foyers, a majestic facade, which has become one of the emblems of the northern capital, has become one of the pearls of world architecture registered by UNESCO.

The main façade of the theatre, on the side of Nevsky Prospekt, is decorated with a deep multi-column loggia, the space of which is, as it were, part of Ostrovsky Square. The side facades of the building are made in the form of eight-column porticos. On the other side, the street (Architect Rossi) designed by Rossi and constituting a common ensemble with the theater leads to the theater, the perspective of which closes the entire width of the rear, almost flat, but richly decorated facade of the theater.

The building is framed by an expressive sculptural frieze with antique theatrical masks and garlands of laurel branches. In the niches on the end facades there are statues of the Muses, on the attic of the main facade there is a quadriga of Apollo.

Interior

A loggia with a powerful Corinthian colonnade, crowned with an attic with stucco reliefs of Glory and the chariot of Apollo, a rich development of cornices, friezes, bas-reliefs, rhythmic lines of windows, arches, balustrades - all this makes up a solemn ensemble, a kind of architectural symphony; the interior decoration of the theater is also remarkable.

Seats for spectators were created according to the most perfect for its time multi-tiered system of boxes with an amphitheater and a spacious stalls. The five-tiered auditorium is notable for its good proportions and excellent acoustics. In 1841 there were 107 boxes (10 in the benoir, 26 boxes in the first tier, 28 in the second, 27 in the third and 16 in the fourth), a balcony for 36 people, a fourth-tier gallery for 151 seats, 390 seats in the fifth tier, 231 chairs in the stalls (9 rows) and 183 seats behind them. In total, the theater could accommodate up to 1,700 people.

The decoration of the auditorium is solemn and elegant, the interiors of the theater have practically retained the original decoration. Initially, blue upholstery was used, it was replaced in 1849 with crimson: the theater, which was lit by oil lamps, was sooty from the inside. For the same reason, over time, all wall and ceiling paintings were updated, in addition, the stage was completely redone later. In addition to the velvet finish, the boxes are richly decorated with gilded carvings: the carvings of the central ("Royal") box and the boxes near the stage are made according to the drawings of Rossi, and the ornament on the barriers of the tiers was created in the second half of the 19th century.

The decoration of the auditorium was complemented by a wonderful perspective pictorial ceiling, which depicted Olympus and Parnassus (artist A.K. Vigi).

Design

K.I.Rossi, defended his design in front of official circles, which was not easy. Confidence in the strength of the metal structure he proposed is illustrated by one of the reports: "... in the event that ... ... some kind of misfortune occurred from the installation of metal roofs, then as an example for others, let me be hung on one of the rafters of the theater the same hour."

Story

The walls of the Alexandrinsky Theater keep the memory of the great figures of the Russian state, politicians, military leaders, cultural figures. A.S. Pushkin, M.Yu. Lermontov, N.V. Gogol, I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, L.N. Tolstoy, A.P. Chekhov, P.I. Tchaikovsky, A.M. Gorchakov, S.Yu. Witte, V.A. Stolypin, K.G. Mannerheim, many crowned heads of European states.

It was at the Alexandrinsky Theater that the premieres of almost all the works of Russian dramatic classics from "Woe from Wit" by A.S. Griboedov to the plays by A.N. Ostrovsky and A.P. Chekhov.

Alexandrinka's performances have been included in all the world's theater encyclopedias. Great artists A. Benois, K. Korovin, A. Golovin, N. Altman, outstanding composers A. Glazunov, D. Shostakovich, R. Shchedrin collaborated with the theater.

Reconstruction

The grand opening of the reconstructed Alexandrinsky Theater took place on August 30, 2006 during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the oldest state drama theater in Russia. In the morning, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga blessed the stage and auditorium of the theatre, blessing the assembled actors, directors and theater workers. In the afternoon, the Marble Palace hosted the opening of the exhibition "The Theater of Illustrious Masters", timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Russian theater. The opening of the renovated Alexandrinsky Stage was the culmination of the anniversary celebrations.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the construction of the second stage of the theater has been underway. The opening date has been pushed back several times. Now the administration promises that the work will be completed by 2013.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources.

One of the most famous theaters in St. Petersburg, the legendary Alexandrinsky Theater was founded by decree of Empress Elizabeth. In honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, the theater was named Alexandrovsky. On February 9, 1937, when Russia celebrated the centenary of the death of Pushkin, the theater was named after the poet, and now it is called the Alexandrinsky, or Pushkin Theatre.

The magnificent building, which has housed the theater since 1832, was built by the architect Carl Rossi. Facing Nevsky Prospekt, the exquisite architectural ensemble is one of the best examples of Russian classicism. The sculptural composition "Chariot of Apollo", located on the attic of the building, has become not only a symbol of the theater, but also one of the emblems of the Northern capital.

The theater's repertoire traditionally consists of dramatic performances by Russian and foreign classics. Almost all world premieres of works of Russian classical drama took place on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater. Pushkin and Belinsky, Turgenev, Ostrovsky and Blok often visited the legendary productions. Here Chekhov experienced joy at the presentation of his "Ivanov" and disappointment after the first failed production of "The Seagull". Today, in the playbill of the theater, along with dramatic works, you can increasingly see ballet performances with the participation of stars of Russian choreography.
The ensemble of actors of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, known as the "theater of masters", is one of the strongest in St. Petersburg. The walls of the theater keep the memory of the outstanding actors V. Karatygin, A. Martynov, I. Gorbachev, B. Freindlich, actresses V. Komissarzhevskaya, E. Korchagina-Aleksandrovskaya and many others.

The building of the Alexandrinsky Theater, created by K. I. Rossi, is one of the most characteristic and outstanding architectural monuments of Russian classicism. It plays a dominant role in the ensemble of Ostrovsky Square. As a result of the redevelopment of the Anichkov Palace estate in 1816-1818, a vast city square arose between the building of the Public Library and the garden of the Anichkov Palace. For more than ten years, from 1816 to 1827, Rossi developed a number of projects for the reconstruction and development of this square, which included the construction of a city theater on it. The final version of the project was approved on April 5, 1828. The construction of the theater began in the same year. On August 31, 1832, its grand opening took place.

The theater building is located in the depths of Ostrovsky Square and faces Nevsky Prospekt with its main facade. The rusticated walls of the lower floor serve as a plinth for the solemn colonnades that adorn the facades of the theatre. The colonnade of the main façade of six Corinthian columns stands out clearly against the backdrop of a wall pushed back into the depths. The traditional motif of a classical portico brought forward is here replaced by a spectacular loggia motif, rare in St. Petersburg. The smooth surface of the walls on the sides of the loggia is cut with shallow semicircular niches with statues of the muses - Terpsichore and Melpomene and completed with a wide sculptural frieze encircling the building. The attic of the main façade, decorated with sculptural figures of Glory, is crowned with the quadriga of Apollo, symbolizing the successes of Russian art.

Solemn and spectacular are the side facades of the theater and the southern facade, which closes the perspective of Zodchego Rossi Street. In his work on the project of the theater, Rossi focused his attention on its three-dimensional solution, monumentality and expressiveness of the external appearance. Inside the building, the most interesting is the auditorium. Its proportions are well found. Here, fragments of the original architectural design have been preserved, in particular, decorative gilded carvings of the boxes near the stage and the central large (“royal”) box. The barriers of the tiers are decorated with gilded ornaments made in the second half of the 19th century.

Sculpture plays an important role in the design of facades. Its performers were S. S. Pimenov, V. I. Demut-Malinovsky and A. Triskorn. The chariot of Apollo was minted from sheet copper at the Alexander iron foundry according to the model of S. S. Pimenov. By the centenary of the theater in 1932, under the direction of I. V. Krestovsky, the unpreserved statues of Terpsichore, Melpomene, Clio and Thalia, installed in niches on the facades, were re-made.
The theater has unique collections of scenery, costumes, furniture, theatrical props, weapons, the richest museum funds, which can be exhibited both in Russia and abroad in the most prestigious exhibition spaces.
During the 2005-2006 season. The Alexandrinsky Theater carried out a general reconstruction, as a result of which the historical appearance of the building's interiors was recreated. At the same time, Aleksandrinka has become one of the most advanced stage venues in terms of engineering. The grand opening of the reconstructed Alexandrinsky Theater took place on August 30, 2006 during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the oldest state drama theater in Russia.

Repertoire of the Alexandrinsky Theatre.

The first director of the Alexandrinsky Theater was A.P. Sumarokov, and then - F.G. Volkov. The theater troupe was formed under the guidance of the famous actor, director and teacher I.A. Dmitrevsky. The theater repertoire of the second half of the 18th century included dramatic works by A.P. Sumarokova, Ya.B. Knyazhnina, comedies by V.V. Kapnista, I.A. Krylova, D.I. Fonvizin, everyday dramas by V.I. Lukin, P.A. Plavilshchikov, as well as Western European playwrights - P. Corneille, J. Racine, Voltaire, Moliere, Beaumarchais.

Since the beginning of the 1770s, the comic opera, a kind of theatrical genre that combined dramatic action with musical numbers, singing and dancing, has occupied a leading place in the theater's repertoire. Based on stories from the life of "ordinary people", it quickly became popular. Fonvizin's performance "Undergrowth" was famous at one time, first staged on the stage of the St. Petersburg theater in 1782 with the participation of Dmitrevsky (Starodum), Plavilytsikov (Pravdin), Mikhailova (Prostakov), Sokolov (Skotinin) and Shumsky (Eremeevna).
Of course, the performing arts of the theater until the beginning of the 19th century were associated with theatrical classicism - this was taught by Dmitrevsky. But with the change in dramaturgy, with the expansion of genre laws, emotional and psychological tendencies in acting art intensified. S.N. shone on the stage of the theater. Sandunov, A.M. Krutitsky, P.A. Melters, A.D. Karatygina, Ya.E. Shusherin. Sentimental drama and melodrama, which occupied a significant place in the repertoire, demanded more naturalness and simplicity from the actors.
The public loved these genres because they reproduced "ordinary life". Of course, the ideas about "simplicity", "naturalness" and "ordinary life", reflected in the dramaturgy in different periods of the history of the theater, were quite noticeably dissimilar. And today, melodrama performances, or "tearful dramas", like Ilyin's "Liza, or the Triumph of Gratitude" and Fedorov's "Lisa, or the Consequence of Pride and Seduction" by Fedorov, would hardly have seemed to us vital.
But such was the spirit of the time - all kinds of sensitivity were valued at the theater. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the staging of tragedies by V.A. Ozerov - "Oedipus in Athens" and "Dmitry Donskoy". The significance of their problems, their patriotism were supported by the magnificent play of tragic actors - E.S. Semenova and A.S. Yakovlev.
In the 20s of the 19th century, the comedy and vaudeville of A. Shakhovsky, M. Zagoskin, N. Khmelnitsky began to take more and more place in the theater's repertoire. The best comedy performers were recognized by M.I. Valberkhov and I.I. Sosnitsky. At this time, early comedies by A.S. Griboyedov - "Young spouses" and "Feigned infidelity". In the late 1920s, the theater turned to the romantic repertoire: dramatizations of A.S. Pushkin, V.A. Zhukovsky, novels by V. Scott. Acting art also develops the principles of romantic, emotionally effective stage behavior.

At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, the work of the Alexandrinsky Theater was quite eclectic. Directing also appeared on the oldest stage, in which everyday realism, bordering on naturalism, prevailed (director E.P. Karpov). In 1908-1917, several performances were staged at the theater by V.E. Meyerhold, fascinated by symbolic and stylistic ideas. He asserted on the stage the festive theatricality, brightness, and luxurious decoration of performances. "Don Giovanni" by Moliere (1910), "Thunderstorm" (1916), "Masquerade" (1917) consistently deployed to the public the idea of a masquerade performance, mystical and religious, and in the theme of rock "Masquerade", staged on the eve of revolutions, they saw " the death of the empire.

After the revolution of 1917, the theater was subjected to the most severe attacks from the revolutionary theatrical figures of Proletkult, futurists and others. They demanded the dissolution of the troupe and the elimination of the imperial theater, representing the "old world" of "bourgeois art." Of course, it was a time of crisis. In 1919, the Alexandrinsky Theater became part of the association of academic theaters, and in 1920 it was renamed the Petrograd State Academic Drama Theater.
For the first time in the post-revolutionary years, the theater staged predominantly Russian and European classics. Gorky's dramaturgy appeared on his stage ("Petty Bourgeois", "At the Bottom"). In the mid-20s, plays of historical and revolutionary content appeared on its stage: "Ivan Kalyaev", "Pugachevshchina", and the director N.V. Petrov staged "The End of Krivorylsk" by Romashov, "Calm" by Biel-Belotserkovsky, "Armored Train 14-69" Vs. Ivanova.
The revolutionary line of the repertoire will now remain in the theater for a long time. And, although, in the 30s, historical characters and Russian autocrats will appear on the stage of the theater (the play "Peter I" by A.N. Tolstoy, "Commander Suvorov" by Bekhterev), Russian history is interpreted in the spirit of the "class approach".
In 1937 the theater was named after A.S. Pushkin. During the Great Patriotic War, he worked in Novosibirsk, and the best plays about the war by Soviet playwrights - "Front", "Russian People", "Invasion" were performed on its stage. In the autumn of 1944, he resumed work in Leningrad.
The largest event was the staging on its stage in 1955 of the play "Optimistic Tragedy" directed by G.A. Tovstonogov. The largest artists worked in the troupe of the theater: V.V. Merkuriev, N.K. Simonov, Yu.V. Tolubeev, N.K. Cherkasov, V.I. Chestnokov, E.V. Aleksandrovskaya, B.A. Freindlich and great theater directors Vs. Meyerhold, L. Vivienne, G. Kozintsev, G. Tovstonogov, N. Akimov and many others.

The history of the theater is also the history of the human soul, its ups and downs. The history of the theater is the history of a human creative gift, which we do not always dispose of at its true worth. Still, you can't help but love the theatre. And we love this magnificent, beautiful and fascinating world of theatrical art, which amazes with its diversity and vitality. After all, even at the beginning of the new century, we still see parsley performances in the streets and fairs, the traditions of Chinese and Japanese theater are still alive, we still feel awe when we hear about "Russian classical ballet" or "Italian bel canto".
The Alexandrinsky Theater is one of the most famous theaters in St. Petersburg.
There are many generic features in the life of St. Petersburg; but the Alexandrinsky Theater is almost one of its most characteristic features, it is almost the main "burrow" of the huge and beautiful capital. One need only look at the Alexandrinsky Theatre, which, with its lovely square in front, the garden and arsenal of the Anichkin Palace on one side, and the Imperial Public Library on the other, is one of the most remarkable decorations of Nevsky Prospekt. But whoever wants to get to know inner Petersburg, not only its houses, but also those who live in them, to get acquainted with its way of life, he must certainly visit the Alexandrinsky Theater for a long time and constantly, primarily before all other theaters of Petersburg.
The name of the Alexandrinsky Theater is inextricably linked with the world history of performing arts. The unique complex of buildings, with a five-tiered auditorium, a huge stage, palace front foyers, a majestic facade, which has become one of the emblems of the Northern capital, has become one of the pearls of world architecture registered by UNESCO. Among the great oldest national theaters in Europe - the Paris Comedie Francaise, the Vienna Burgtheater, the London Drewry Lane, the Berlin Deutsches Theater - the Alexandrinsky Theater occupies a place of honor, being a symbol of the Russian National Theatre.

History of the Alexandrinsky Theater

In 1801, a wooden theater was built in the gardens of Colonel Anichkin for the performances of the Italian opera troupe. Due to the growing popularity of this art form, the building soon ceased to satisfy the demands of the public, so a decision was made to build a new one. The implementation of the idea put several military conflicts, including the war with Napoleon. In 1818, the gardens were significantly narrowed, resulting in a vast area given over to the construction of a new theater.

The well-known architect Karl Ivanovich Rossi spent eleven years developing a project for the development of the resulting area. In April 1828, the final version was finally approved, which included a new stone theater. The process was significantly delayed due to the ambitious plans of the architect.

The innovative approach that he planned to apply in the construction of the building was met with disbelief by officials. Rossi used a system of metal ceilings, developed jointly with engineer Clark, which included original steel structures for roofs, ceilings and balconies. In one of the documents, the words of the architect were preserved that he agreed to be hung on the rafters if his original decision would cause misfortune. As a result, he managed to defend his innovation and four years after the start of construction, a new theater was built, striking in its size and splendor.

Architecture and decoration of the Alexandrinsky Theater

The main facade of the building from the side of Nevsky Prospekt overlooks Ostrovsky Square. An original solution for St. Petersburg - a loggia with six massive Corinthian columns - replaces the traditional portico in the ancient Greek style. The wall of the lower floor, decorated with rustication, serves as a visual support for the colonnade, behind which there is a rhythmic line of arched windows. On both sides of the loggia there are shallow niches with statues of Melpomene and Terpsichore. The composition is completed by a sculptural frieze encircling the building. Above the attic of the main façade, decorated with sculptural images, there is one of the symbols of St. Petersburg - the quadriga of Apollo.