It is confusing when dealing with the term "Imperial Theatres", which seldom appears in dance books and has been mentioned in our previous article about Virginia Zucchi.
Maryinsky in St.Petersburg- night view
Actually these theatres were government institutions, created in the 18th century. Two in St. Petersburg, the famous Maryinsky (it was called "Kirov" for some years after the Revolution), dedicated to opera and ballet and the Alexandrinsky to drama. The other two were the Bolshoi in Moscow built in 1773 for ballet and opera performances and the small Maly only for drama also in Moscow.
One was attached to the other and some dancers started as actors or viceversa, like in the case of the great Russian dancer and choreographer Leonid Massine. ( See the book "Massine" by Vicente Garcia-Marquez)
Bolshoi in Moscow
Interesting to note that they were restored or as in the case of Maryinsky newly rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century previously being a circus. The design and construction of these theatres had the collaboration of Italian architects like Alberto Cavos (son of a ballet teacher who moved to Russia) for the Bolshoi and were important thanks to Italian ballerinas or teachers who went there in that century to bring their artistry sponsored by Russian Emperors. The interiors of these magnificent halls are exactly the same as the finest opera theatre of Italy like "La Scala" of Milan.
Actually these theatres were government institutions, created in the 18th century. Two in St. Petersburg, the famous Maryinsky (it was called "Kirov" for some years after the Revolution), dedicated to opera and ballet and the Alexandrinsky to drama. The other two were the Bolshoi in Moscow built in 1773 for ballet and opera performances and the small Maly only for drama also in Moscow.
One was attached to the other and some dancers started as actors or viceversa, like in the case of the great Russian dancer and choreographer Leonid Massine. ( See the book "Massine" by Vicente Garcia-Marquez)
Bolshoi in Moscow
Interesting to note that they were restored or as in the case of Maryinsky newly rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century previously being a circus. The design and construction of these theatres had the collaboration of Italian architects like Alberto Cavos (son of a ballet teacher who moved to Russia) for the Bolshoi and were important thanks to Italian ballerinas or teachers who went there in that century to bring their artistry sponsored by Russian Emperors. The interiors of these magnificent halls are exactly the same as the finest opera theatre of Italy like "La Scala" of Milan.