The Many Names of the Theatre
An interesting part of the history and evolution of the Mariinsky Theatre has been the number of changes in the name of the institutions and the various alterations through the years. The name of the theatre is dedicated to the Empress Maria Alexandrovna, who was the wife of the Tsar Alexander II. The entrance foyer houses a bust in a likeness of the Empress, which has been in place for a long time, while the name of the theatre has seen many transformations, depending upon the socio-political situation in the country.
In the year 1920 the theatre was known as the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, before being changed to the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in 1924. The year 1935 saw the theatre's name changed to the Leningrad State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, and then it was once again changed in 1992 to Kirov State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, before being finally christened as the State Academic Mariinsky Theatre.
Buying Tickets for the Theatre
One of the easiest ways to procure tickets to shows at the Mariinsky Theatre is to book them online on the theatre's official website. It is also possible to purchase the tickets from various box offices spread throughout the city. The theatre box office at the Central Agency of Air Communications and the one at the Concert Hall of the theatre are also good places to buy from. Tourists who happen to be in Moscow during their visit can also purchase the tickets from OOO Talarii, the building of the Moscow City Government at 36/9 Novy Arbat.
A Jewel in Modern Times
More than two centuries since its time of establishment, the theatre continues to be a world class institution. The theatre is home to some of the finest cultural institutions of the nation such as the Mariinsky Opera and the Mariinsky Ballet, known to be one of the best ballet companies in the whole world.