Russian opera has roots dating back to 1830, when the first great Russian Opera house was built, the Mariinsky Theatre. Around the same time, a nationalistic movement took place in Russia and composers and artists rejected popular European styles and themes. Instead, they looked inward to Russian folk music and chants for inspiration. Famous Russian composers like Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev developed operas and compositions with a unique Russian flair.
Many great Russian operas were inspired by famous Russian literature. Prokofiev's War and Peace was developed from the novel of the same name by Tolstoy. Other great Russian operas include Prokofiev's Fiery Angel and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Oregin, among many others from various composers. Russian opera is performed all over the world, and brings a distinctive Russian flavor, unmistakable to true opera buffs.
The world-renowned Mariinsky Theatre is still in existence and is home to the Kirov Ballet. For many years the Kirov Ballet played second fiddle to the Bolshoi in Moscow, but during the 1980s became once again a powerhouse in the world of ballet and opera. If you are planning on visiting St. Petersburg, the Mariinsky Theatre and the Kirov Ballet are must-sees if you are truly interested in Russian arts and culture.
Include Russian Opera
Any tour of Russia must include Russian opera for a complete cultural and artistic experience. Russian opera has a rich tradition of breaking ground with creativity and uniqueness that are quintessentially Russian. You can find much useful information about Russian opera and music online, and I invite you to learn more about it before visiting the country.
Read Next 5 Articles
Russian Visas
Russian Opera Theaters
Russian Icons
Russian Travel
Russian History