The Imperial Theatre on the Fontanka is as inseparable part of St. Petersburg as the Hermitage, Russian Museum, Admiralty, Peter-and-Paul Fortress and the Bronze Horseman. The Imperial Theatre on the Fontanka is one of the most beautiful theatres it is situated in the city's historical center.
The theatre was built on the plot owned by the heirs of one of the closed associates of Peter the Great, Lieutenant-General Count Fiodor Apraksin. His descendant, Lieutenant-General Count Anton Apraksin, commissioned the theatre design from the notable St. Petersburg architect, an Italian by birth, academician L.Fontana.
This architect began his career in Russia as an assistant Harold Bosse and gained recognition after he reconstructed his own mansion (10, Dvortsovaya Embankment) that was built still in the 18th century. Though L. Fontana designed many buildings in Of. Petersburg, he is known, first of all, as the author of the design of one of the city's hotels, Grand Hotel Europe.
The erection of the theatre was completed in 1878, and its contemporaries had an opportunity to highly appreciate the functional merits and the beauty of theatre interiors. Its decor consists of rich gilded moulding and painted ceilings. The lace-like staircase leads to the fover of the Creek Hall. The staircase is illuminated with ancient lanterns shaped as woman's figures holding burning torches. In the auditorium there are comfortable dark-blue velvet seats.
The theatre scene saw first nights of many plays by Russian, now classical, authors. The Great Russian actress Maria Savina made her debut just on the scene of the Imperial Theatre on the Fontanka. Many outstanding guest artists regularly appeared here, such Italian actors and actresses as Eleanor Duse, Tomas Salvini and Sandro Moissi among them. The theatre-lovers not once had an opportunity to admire the performances given by the Comedie-Francaise, with Jean Mounet-Sully, or the great Sarra Bernhardt.
The Italian opera from the Helsingfors Theatre was a regular guest of the Imperial Theatre. Such great Italians as Mattia Battistini, Angelo Masini and Ciuseppe Anselmi sang there, the unforgettable Isidora Duncan danced there too.

Address:
Fontanka, 65
Perfomance times:
evenings 19.00