28. Эрмитажный Театр – личный театр императрицы/The Hermitage Theatre – the private theatre of the Empress, 1783-1787

Authors: architects – G., Quarenghi, Yu.M. Velten (1785 – 1787), A.F.Krasovskiy (1895 - 1897), K.N.Benois (1902 - 1904)

Address: Dvortsovaya naberezhnaya, 14Catherine II called by Voltaire Northern Minerva was patroness of handicraft and art who took much care about the enlightenment in Russia. She was especially fond of the theatrical art: the Empress initiated the construction of theatres, encouraged the playwrights and artists, patronized Russian and foreign actors, and composed and translated historical dramas and comedies herself.On 6 November 1783 the Empress signed the decree ordering the construction of the Hermitage Theatre on the site of the Life-Guards Barracks. Catherine II desired lo have the court theatre in which she would receive only close friends and organize private receptions. G. Quarenghi was invited to embody the Empress' idea.

Two years later, on 16 November 1785 the Hermitage Theatre was opened with the first night of the comedy opera A miller, a magician, a deceiver and a matchmaker by A. Ablesimov. The performances took place twice or even tree times a week. The guests entered the Theatre hall through the arch-passage built over the Winter Canal by Yu. Velten. А new edifice was built on the basement of the former palaces of Peter I and Catherine I - the architect even preserved the walls of ihe old premises being pressed for lime. The facade decor was accomplished only in 1802 after Catherine M's death.

The facade of the building was decorated with a classical colonnade, sculptures and busts of ancient Greek poeis. To thank the architect Catherine II presented him the box for life use so that G. Quarenghi could go downstairs from his apartment in the wing facing the Winter Canal and watch every performance together with his big family.The Theatre Hall was planned for 250 guests and was absolutely unique at lhal time. Not great in size ii allowed spectators to watch a performance without opera glass for the stage could be seen from every place. The edifice was built in Antique Style with a semicircular amphitheatre, one main and two side flights of stairs. The Hall was encircled with the gallery, separated from it by paired columns and balustrades. G. Quarenghi put sculpture images of Apollo and the Nine Muses between the columns in special niches (in the Hall and on the stage); above there were bas-relieves of famous figures of an. surrounding the Hall they were enclosed above the stage with the head of Medusa Gorgon lhal symbolized the enchanting magic of art. A splendid Hall was lit with ten chandeliers hung in pairs and representing a single composition. The Empress corrected ihe ensemble taking away the gallery and placing armchairs instead of benches.The Hermitage Theatre was extremely popular in the reign of Catherine II. Being passionate theatre connoisseur ihe Empress organized theatrical performances of two types (also called hermitages): .small hermitage with 60 - 80 guests, and hig hermitage with up to 200 guests, among which there were Grand Duchess, officers of the Guards and even successor Paul himself. Catherine II preferred the second semicircular bench having the favourites at her feet. After ihe performance guests used to have dinner, dance and attend the art gallery. The plays performed on the stage of the Theatre were often written by courtiers of Catherine II. by foreigners or even the Empress herself! On New Year the F.mpress used to send special invitation tickets, thus welcoming a lot of people, though usually the Hermitage was opened only for intimate friends and high-rank courtiers. For such an occasion a big table for 600 guests was laid in the Hermitage Theatre where the stage was connected to the auditorium by an artificial planking.A lot of famous composers, decorators, dancers and actors from all over the world performed on its stage. In Russia it became the school of Russian theatre an of is"¹ century. After the Empress's death in 1796 the Hermitage Theatre lost its splendour. The interior decor was changed twice; in 1895 - 1897 by A. Krasovskiy. and in 1902 - 1904 by L. Bcnois.In the course of 19th cent. Emperors were unavailingly reviving the Hermitage Theatre but still it was in decay for numerous professional theatres were developing in the city. In 1919 Vsevolod Meyerhold tried to revive the Theatre and was going to use the stage for folk performances. He invited M. Shagal, O. Knipper and K. Shalyapin to take part in the performances but al! his plans failed -the government decided that the performances could impair the collections of an.

In 1927 the Hermitage Theatre was used as a lecture hall of the Hermitage. In 1932 - 1935 so called theme evenings were organized on the stage of the Theatre by S. Ginsbotirg. He invited opera singers, ballet actors performing European dances of 16^th - 17' cent, and lecturers telling about Paganini. Vagner and Pergolezi. Such evenings were very successful bui soon ceased to exist for the maintenance costs were ruinous for the Hermitage.Since that period of time the Hermitage Theatre was used only for lecturing, scientific conferences and meetings. In early 1980s the building of the former Hermitage Theatre needed the overhaul. The Finnish construction firm was invited to Saini-Pctcrsbum to fulfill the reconstruction of the edifice. The interior decoration of the hall was restored by the Hermitage workshops. The most modem equipment was installed in the theatre, and the overhaul was completed in 1989.On 7 January 1991 the renewed Hermitage Theatre was reopened. The lecture-hall of the Theatre also continued its work. The stage of the Hermitage Theatre became the most popular in the city. Nowadays it hosts the troupes of Mariinskiy and Alexandrinskiy Theatres as well as the troupes of foreign opera and ballet theatres, The State Hermitage Orchestra regularly gives performances on the Theatre's stage but the Hermitage Theatre still has no opera and ballet troupe of its own.