St. Petersburg may not be the country's economic or administrative capital , but when it comes to the arts , this glorious city on the Neva River is Russia's brightest star. Boasting renowned ballet and opera companies and a world-class symphony, it is also the former home of stravinsky, Shostakovich ,Prokofiev,and Rachmaninoff; the place where Diaghilev,Nijinsky, and Balanchine made their names , and where Pushkin ,Gogol and Dostoevsky penned some of Russia's best loved works.St. Petersburg's annual White Nights Festival is one of the most popular annual celebrations in Russia. The ceremony honors the summer solstice with parades, dances, fireworks and ornate sailboat demonstrations on the Neva River. Tourism to St. Petersburg is highest during this period.
The festival was first held in 1993 under the artistic directorship of Valery Gergiev, Maestro of the Mariinsky Theatre & Ballet, and since then the combination of world-class performances and the beauty of St Petersburg itself, has made the White Nights Festival an important event in the cultural calendar. From the end of May to the beginning of June St. Petersburg is lit both day and night with a golden glow that provides a relaxed atmosphere and a romantic aura. This celebration of light has enchanted visitors, inspired poetry, and given rise to the name White Nights.
At 59 degrees 57′ North, St. Petersburg is in the same latitude as Olso, Norway and Seward, Alaska. It is also the world’s most northern city with a population over 1 million and holds the largest celebrations in the world for this gift from nature.The calender is always awash with cultural offerings,but the city is especially vibrant in summer,during the performance packed White Nights Festival.The Festival began as a two-week event centered around the solstice,when the sun disappears for only a few hours and residents celebrate the season's long,white nights of summers.It has grown to an eight week spectacle that lasts from May-July and attracts more than a Million visitors.
Major Attractions :
The festival kicks off with the "Stars of the White Nights" at Mariinsky Theatre and ends in July. Besides this, the Scarlet Sails celebration is another highlight of White Nights Festival,which presents mock pirate battles,rowing competition,outdoor concerts. The popularity of this event is due to the spectacular fireworks and a massive show celebrating the end of the school year. Carnivals occurring during White Nights add to the wide variety of events in this annual gala.Late- night river and canal cruises to witness the raising of the bridges are a fun tradition in this "Venice of the North". The Mariisky Theater Hall has hosted the White Night Festival several times. Some of the prominent past performances at the White Nights Festival of Saint Petersburg are:
Shchedrin's Enchanted Wanderer
Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet
Prokofiev's The Gambler
Adam's Giselle, La Bayadère
Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges
Tchaikovsky's Mazeppa
Asafiev's The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
Minkus' Don Quixote
Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina
Melikov's The Legend of Love
Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker
Borodin's Prince Igor
The state of art Mariinsky concert hall, opened in 2006, has flawless acoustics,and the 2000 seat New Marrinsky theater is under construction.The largest carnival is held in the suburb of Peterhof, where historical figures and events ate portrayed by actors in creative costume. The Star performances at the Palace Square are another feather in this festival's cap. This wide square has been a witness to official military parades and massive demonstrations, as well as for political events and large-scale shows and other entertainment in Russia.
St. Petersburg is the premiere destination in Russia for those who appreciate world-renowned art and architecture. At the famous Hermitage Museum in the city center, you'll find more than three million pieces of Russian and international art. The city also contains excellent examples of European Baroque architecture. Travelers also recommend the somber Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery, which pays tribute to the casualties of Leningrad.
The 2012 White Nights Festival starts on Friday 25 May and runs to Friday 15 July. The programme offers both Russian and Western music: operas, ballets, choral and symphonic concerts.
The festival was first held in 1993 under the artistic directorship of Valery Gergiev, Maestro of the Mariinsky Theatre & Ballet, and since then the combination of world-class performances and the beauty of St Petersburg itself, has made the White Nights Festival an important event in the cultural calendar. From the end of May to the beginning of June St. Petersburg is lit both day and night with a golden glow that provides a relaxed atmosphere and a romantic aura. This celebration of light has enchanted visitors, inspired poetry, and given rise to the name White Nights.
At 59 degrees 57′ North, St. Petersburg is in the same latitude as Olso, Norway and Seward, Alaska. It is also the world’s most northern city with a population over 1 million and holds the largest celebrations in the world for this gift from nature.The calender is always awash with cultural offerings,but the city is especially vibrant in summer,during the performance packed White Nights Festival.The Festival began as a two-week event centered around the solstice,when the sun disappears for only a few hours and residents celebrate the season's long,white nights of summers.It has grown to an eight week spectacle that lasts from May-July and attracts more than a Million visitors.
Major Attractions :
The festival kicks off with the "Stars of the White Nights" at Mariinsky Theatre and ends in July. Besides this, the Scarlet Sails celebration is another highlight of White Nights Festival,which presents mock pirate battles,rowing competition,outdoor concerts. The popularity of this event is due to the spectacular fireworks and a massive show celebrating the end of the school year. Carnivals occurring during White Nights add to the wide variety of events in this annual gala.Late- night river and canal cruises to witness the raising of the bridges are a fun tradition in this "Venice of the North". The Mariisky Theater Hall has hosted the White Night Festival several times. Some of the prominent past performances at the White Nights Festival of Saint Petersburg are:
Shchedrin's Enchanted Wanderer
Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet
Prokofiev's The Gambler
Adam's Giselle, La Bayadère
Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges
Tchaikovsky's Mazeppa
Asafiev's The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
Minkus' Don Quixote
Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina
Melikov's The Legend of Love
Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker
Borodin's Prince Igor
The state of art Mariinsky concert hall, opened in 2006, has flawless acoustics,and the 2000 seat New Marrinsky theater is under construction.The largest carnival is held in the suburb of Peterhof, where historical figures and events ate portrayed by actors in creative costume. The Star performances at the Palace Square are another feather in this festival's cap. This wide square has been a witness to official military parades and massive demonstrations, as well as for political events and large-scale shows and other entertainment in Russia.
St. Petersburg is the premiere destination in Russia for those who appreciate world-renowned art and architecture. At the famous Hermitage Museum in the city center, you'll find more than three million pieces of Russian and international art. The city also contains excellent examples of European Baroque architecture. Travelers also recommend the somber Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery, which pays tribute to the casualties of Leningrad.
The 2012 White Nights Festival starts on Friday 25 May and runs to Friday 15 July. The programme offers both Russian and Western music: operas, ballets, choral and symphonic concerts.
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