One of the oldest in Russia, the first state theater of Alexandrinka always arouses special interest among the public and the close attention of critics. He has a special account: he must correspond to the high rank of the imperial theater, and he has withstood this brand with honor for more than 250 years.
Origin
The reign of the daughter of Peter the Great Elizabeth was marked by a surge in cultural life in Russia. In particular, the spectacle industry demonstrates rapid growth with it, many private theaters are being created, touring troupes of foreign artists are gathering, playwrights write their first plays in Russian. There is a need for the creation of a state theater, following the example of other European capitals. And on August 30, 1756, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna issues a decree establishing the first imperial theater in Russia. So the future Alexandrinka gains its official status.
At first, the theater is called Russian, used to present comedies and tragedies. The basis of the troupe are immigrants from Yaroslavl: Fedor Volkov, who became the director of the troupe, and actors Dmitrievsky, Volkov and Popov. Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov, who is considered the progenitor of Russian drama, becomes the playwright and director of the theater. The repertoire is based on the French plays of Racine, Beaumarchais, Voltaire, Moliere, as well as works by Russian authors: Fonvizin, Sumarokov, Lukin, Knyazhnin. The main emphasis was on the production of comedies.
Building construction
The theater was incredibly popular in St. Petersburg, but he didn’t have his own premises, he wandered around different venues, he needed a special building. But only 76 years after its founding, the Alexandrinsky Theater appeared, the address of which is known to any theatergoer today. In that place was originally a wooden building, which was occupied by the Italian troupe of Casassi. But later the theater broke up, the room was bought into the treasury, and after it was badly damaged in the fire of 1811, the war with Napoleon distracted him from his problems.
But, despite the lack of funding, in 1810, Carl Rossi creates a project for the reconstruction of the area. And only in the 30s, under Nicholas I, did the question of the construction of a theater seriously arise. Karl Rossi becomes the head of this process, he took architects Tkachev and Halberg into his team. A lot of money was invested in the construction, and the work began to boil: for the foundation of the building 5,000 piles were driven into the ground, but still decided to save on decorations. Instead of copper and bronze, painting and woodcarving were used.
The building was erected in just 4 years, and on August 31, 1832 the Alexandrinsky Theater, whose address is Ostrovsky Square, 6, found a building built by the greatest architect of our time. Karl Rossi managed not only construction, but under his leadership the project of the square and the interior decoration of the hall was implemented. The Alexandrinsky Theater, whose photo today is in the album of every tourist who has visited St. Petersburg, is a monument to the great architect.
Architecture and interior
The Alexandrinsky Theater became part of a large-scale urban project of Russia. The front facade, facing Nevsky Prospect, is made in the form of a deep loggia of 10 columns, on the attic of which is the famous Apollo quadriga. On the frieze bordering the building, there are laurel garlands and theater masks. The side facades are decorated with porticoes of 8 columns. Empire style building is a real gem of St. Petersburg. The side street leading to the theater, now bearing the name of Rossi, was planned by the architect according to strict ancient laws. Its width is equal to the height of buildings, and the length is increased exactly 10 times. The street is designed in such a way as to emphasize the splendor and grandeur of the architectural image of the structure.
The emperor saw the interior only in red, but there was not enough fabric, and her order could greatly delay the opening. The architect managed to convince the ruler - so the theater got its now famous blue upholstery. The hall accommodated about 1770 people, had 107 beds, ground floor, galleries and a balcony, the ingenious design gives it amazing acoustics.
Imperial period
In honor of the wife of Nicholas I, the theater was named Alexandrinsky. It becomes the center of stage life in Russia. Here the Russian theater tradition was born, which later would be the glory of the country. After the opening, the Alexandrinsky Theater supported the usual repertoire policy: mainly comedies and musical plays were staged here. But later the repertoire becomes more serious, it is here that the premieres of the Griboedov comedy “Woe from Wit”, “The Examiner” by N. V. Gogol, and “Thunderstorms” by Ostrovsky take place. The greatest actors worked in the theater during this period : Davydov, Savina, Komissarzhevskaya, Svobodin, Strepetova and many others.
By the end of the 19th century, the Alexandrinsky Theater goes out of the power of its troupe and productions to the same level as the best drama theaters in Europe.
The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a crisis that the Alexandrinsky Theater could not get around. In 1908, V. Meyerhold stood at the head of the team, striving to create a new repertoire, but at the same time carefully preserve existing traditions. He puts on unique performances: Don Giovanni, Masquerade, and Thunderstorm, which become masterpieces of the new theater school.
Soviet time
After the October Revolution in 1917, the theater was accused of glorifying imperial power, and difficult times ensued. In 1920, he was renamed the Petrograd Academic Drama Theater, and he began to actively stage a new drama: “At the Bottom” and “Philistines” by M. Gorky, plays by Merezhkovsky, Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, Alexei Tolstoy and even Lunacharsky (People's Commissar of Education).
The troupe, thanks to the efforts of the chief director Yuri Yuryev, has preserved a galaxy of old masters, who are joined by the actors of the new school: Yakov Malyutin, Leonid Vivien, Elena Karjakina. During the Second World War, the theater was evacuated to Novosibirsk, where the actors continued to play performances. In 1944, the troupe returned to Leningrad.
Post-war and subsequent years were not easy for the culture as a whole and for Alexandrinka as well. But here all the same, famous performances appear, such as “Life in Bloom” based on the play by Dovzhenko, “Winners” according to B. Chirskov.
Outstanding actors work in the Soviet period: V. Merkuryev, A. Freindlikh, V. Smirnov, N. Marton, N. Cherkasov, I. Gorbachev and brilliant directors: L. Vivien, G. Kozintsev, N. Akimov, G. Tovstonogov. The theater does not lose its significance, despite ideological difficulties.
Back to the roots
In 1990, the original name returns, and the Alexandrinsky Theater reappears in the world. The years of perestroika are not easy for him, but the theater manages not only to survive, but also to preserve the troupe and unique collections of scenery and props. Thanks to the efforts of Academician D. S. Likhachev, the Alexandrinsky Theater becomes a recognized national asset. St. Petersburg is impossible to imagine without this cultural institution. It is a symbol of the Russian theater, along with the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky Theater.
Present day
The Alexandrinsky Theater, reviews of which are almost always written in enthusiastic colors, tries to keep the brand today. Since 2003, the director is Valery Fokin. His efforts in Alexandrinka host the eponymous theater festival. Under the leadership of Fokin, a grand reconstruction of the theater took place. He achieved that the theater had a second stage, on which experimental performances were staged. The best actors and directors work here. The theater sees its mission in preserving the traditions of the Russian theater school, in supporting new trends and helping talents.
Famous theater productions
Alexandrinka’s repertoire has always included the best plays; all classics were staged here: Chekhov, Gorky, Ostrovsky, Griboedov. Today the performances of the Alexandrinsky Theater are created according to the best works of playwrights: “Nora” by G. Ibsen, “Living Corpse” by L. Tolstoy, “Marriage” by N. Gogol, “Double” by F. Dostoevsky. Each production becomes a global event. V. Fokin is very sensitive to the repertoire policy, he says that there can be no random productions. The mission of the theater is the propaganda of classics, and the latter occupies a leading place in the playbill of Alexandrinka.
Alexandrinsky Theater Troupe
Alexandrinsky Theater (St. Petersburg) is known throughout the world. Today, such veterans of the scene as N. Urgant, N. Marton, V. Smirnov, E. Ziganshina, as well as talented youth: S. Balakshin, D. Belov, A. Bolshakova, A. Frolov, work in the troupe .