38. Александринский Театр – история строительства и внутреннего убранства/The Alexandrinskiy Theatre – the history of creation and peculiarities of the interior décor, 1828-1832

Authors: architect – C.I.Rossi (1828-1832), sculptors – S.S.Pimenov, V.I.Demuth-Malinovskiy, A.Trisconi, I.Leppe (1828-1832)Address: ploshchad’ Ostrovskogo The history of the Alexandrinskiy Theatre is a long one. The oldest national theatre in Russia was founded by F.lizabcth I on 30 August 1756 - on the day of Si Alexander Nevskiy. This date is nowadays celebrated as the birthday of the Russian professional theatre.

Its first director was A. Sumarokov. the troupe was being formed under the supervision of an outstanding actor, an director and pedagogue I. Dmitriycvskiy. The repertoire of late 18^th cent, consisted mainly of the plays by A. Sumarokov himself. I. Krylov, D. Fonvizin, P. Corncille, Voltaire. J.-B. Moliere and Bomarchei.In 1799 on the site of a modem Alexandrinskiy Theatre V. Brenna built the theatre. Us first name was Kazassi Theatre (the name of an Italian entrepreneur that was giving performances in Saint-Petersburg at that time); later il was renamed and became the Small Theatre. Originally the theatre was a garden pavilion of Ihe Anichkov Palace rebuilt by V. Brenna in a thealre construction. Soon il became too small, was in sharp contrast with the splendour of Nevskiy prospeki. and did not correspond to an important role that it had lo play in the city life.In 1811 architect Th. de Thomon was deputed to project a new theatre building. The project worked mil by Th. de Thomon was not put into practice for the Patriotic War began in 1812. After the War the task to work out a project of the thealre was given to C. Rossi and Modui. Modui's variant was approved and the architect started the work. The construction of the ensemble (the theatre and ihe square in front of it) tinned out to be too difficult for the architect, and the work was handed over to С Rossi.The archive keeps 20 variants of the architectural composition of ihe ensemble elaborated by a talented architect and sculptor Carl Ivanovich Rossi. C. Rossi was working out the design of the ensemble for 1 I years, and only on 5 April 1828 the final project was approved. The architect suggested an original design according to which a public building was to become a dominant centre of the city (not a church or a palace as it had been before). C. Rossi planned the construction of an elegant ensemble that comprised a theatre, several streets, two squares, a library, dwelling and public premises, having elaborated even the smallest details and the decoration of fences and street lamps.

The Thealre was named after Nicholas Fs wife - Alexandra Fyodorovna and was ceremonially opened on 31 August 1832 by the play Prince Pozharskiv by M. Krikovskiy.The thealre ensemble occupied the area of 37 hectares, a 11-storey building was 32 m high (10 m higher the surroundings). The facade was decorated with a majestic sis-column colonnade; the triumphal chariot of the patron of arts - ApoUo (made out of beaten copper from a model by S. Pimcnov) and the sculptures of muses crowned the attics of the main and the back facades. The sculpture decorating the facade was made by S. Pimenov, V. Demuth-Malinovskty and A. Triscorni. Semicircular niches held the figures of the Muses - Terpsichore, Melpomene, Clio and Thalia. The original colour of the ensemble was grey with while columns and details and the sculpture loned with bronze. Later the colour-scheme was changed into yellow with white thus having divided the square ensemble. The entrance to the theatre led to the vestibule. There were two front staircases on both sides of it; one for the Tsar and the Court and the other for the spectators from the baignoire and the first circle. The vestibule was decorated with an ornamental wall-painting, bronze chandeliers and lamp brackets. For the spectators whose places were situated in other circles separate vestibules and staircases were constructed. In general there were 5 vestibules and 8 staircases in the Alexandrinskiy Theatre. The lobby was adorned with carved gilded doors, white marble fireplaces, mirrors in carved gilded frames and bronze chandeliers. The colour-scheme of the interior was very bright and aimed at the creation of a festive mood: blue, yellow, violet, orange, green, lilac on the walls, and ihe painting on a pearl background of the ceiling. The stage was constructed with the account of all modem inventions and could successfully compete with the most famous stages of the world. Special mechanisms for flights, lifting hatches and various mechanisms for sound and lighting effects amu/ed the contemporaries. To show the gratitude to the architect and interior designer the directorate of ihe Theatre presented C. Ross: with a separate box in the Alexandrinskiy Theatre. Because of permanent financial problems the architect had to rent it, and once a scandal took place in the Theatre: representatives oi~ two different classes - a merchant and a nobleman, met in that box. As a result the performance was nearly called off, and the box was taken away from С Rossi. The Theatre could boast a rich history illustrated by names of famous playwrights, decorators and actors performing on its stage. In spring 1836 there was the first night of Gogol's play Inspector. A. Pushkin, V. Betinskiy, I. Turgenev, A. Block often visited the Theatre. A. Chekhov was present ai the first nights of his plays: /vanov that was a success, and The Seagull the first night of which turned out to be a failure. On 9 February 1937 the Theatre was renamed after Alexander Pushkin to commemorate the anniversary of his death. So nowadays it has a double name -the Pushkin State Academic Drama Theatre of Rusxia/ХЪе Alexandrinskiy Theatre. The general reconstruction of the theatre building took place in 2005 - 2006. Л refreshed edifice was ceremonially opened on 30 August 2006 to commemorate the 25O^!h anniversary of the oldest drama theatre in Russia. Today the Alexandrinskiy Theatre is regarded to be one of the most popular drama theatres in Saint-Petersburg and in Russia that stages classics of Russian and foreign drama.