St.Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music

The main building of St.Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music

The exhibition covers the history of the Russian theatre from its beginning up to the middle of the 20th century. The Museum's three halls have on display most precious materials: set and costume designs by A.Golovin, M.Dobuzhinsky, S.Sudeikin, B.Kustodiev, K.Malevich, set models, scenery, photographs, private belongings. In the first hall the visitor has a chance to familiarize himself with the beginning of the theatre in Russia. Here there are lubki (popular prints) showing the first actors in Russia - travelling skomorokhs (minstrels and clowns). Here there is also a set model for The Fiery Furnace - one of the most well known liturgical dramas in Old Russia. The scene depicts a Biblical story about the three young men who refused to worship the pagan god and, as a result, were thrown to the fiery furnace. However, the angel of God saved them from a martyr's death. His appearance during the drama was accompanied by sounds of thunder. The drama was usually performed on Christmas Eve and was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov Museum in his former home

At present this is the only composer's museum in St.Petersburg. It occupies a wing of the house #28 on Zagorodny Prospekt, where Rimsky-Korsakov had spent the last fifteen years of his life, from 1893 to 1908. It was here that he composed eleven of his fifteen operas, among them Sadko, The Fairy-Tale of Tzar Sultan, The Tzar's Bride, Kashchey, the Immortal, The Golden Rooster. After the composer's and his wife's death, for fifty years the apartment was shared by several families. Nevertheless, all private belongings, as well as the furniture, have been carefully preserved by the composer's heirs. On December 27, 1971 in the renovated apartment there museum opened, due to the efforts of the composer's descendants. As far as the authenticity of the interiors is concerned, the museum may be duly placed among the best composer's museums in Russia, such as Chaikovsky's House in Klin or the Skryabin Museum in Moscow.

The Samoilov Family Museum

The Samoilov Family Museum was opened in St.Petersburg on January 28, 1994. The museum is a tribute to His Majesty Actor whose private life is closely connected with his creative work. For eighteen years (1869-1887) the second floor of #8 on Stremiannaya Ul. was occupied by the famous actor of Alexandrinsky Theatre Vassily Vassilievich Samoilov (1812-1887). He was the most gifted representative of the Samoilov dynasty, many members of which were well-known theatre people. By the time of the creation of the museum the former Samoilov's apartment, which had been turned into a shared flat, happened to be included in the complex of a five-star hotel which was being built there. As a result of thorough restoration and construction work, fulfilled by the joint venture, and due to the scrupulous research, preceding the organization of the museum, the museum with an inimitable atmosphere and a very interesting exhibition appeared.

The Museum of Music in the Sheremetev Palace

The former mansion of Counts Sheremetev is a unique historical and cultural monument, which represents rare for St.Petersburg pattern of an urban mansion. The site on the bank of the Fontanka was granted by Peter I to the field-marshal Count Sheremetev in 1712. The existing two- storied stone palace was built in 1750 by the architect S.Tchevakinsky. There are also reasons to believe that the sketches by F.-B.Rastrelli were also used. It took two centuries for the mansion to be completed in its development. At different times different architects participated in the decoration of the Palace and its outhouses (F.Argunov, I.Starov, A.Voronikhin, J.Quarengui, Ch.Meier, J.Quadri, I.Korsini, N.Benois, A.Serebryakov and others).

The F. I. Chaliapin Museum in his former apartment

F.I.Chaliapin Memorial Apartment is the last address of the great F.I.Chaliapin in Russia and the first Chaliapin's museum in Russia (opened April 11, 1975). Here the great singer lived from 1914 to 1922, and from here he left Russia in September 1922. After Chaliapin's departure his friend and secretary I.G.Dvoryshchin had taken care of the apartment and the property till his death during the Siege of Leningrad in winter 1942. An accidental phone call to Leningrad Theatre Museum saved the singer's unique archive and private belongings. In 1991 the Memorial apartment was closed for capital reconstruction. It reopened after the renewal on February 5, 1998.