The Hermitage and A Russian Ballet

St Petersburg is home to the largest collection of art in the world, and it is house at a museum known as The Hermitage. The Hermitage was one of the palaces built for the Tsars on the banks of the Neva River, right in the heart of St Petersburg. It is also known as the Winter Palace. The Winter Palace is that part of the building that the Tsar would use for state proposes. The rest of the building is the Hermitage, into which the Tsar could retreat from the public eye, and enjoy his growing collection of art. Below are some photos of the Winter Palace, and of the Hermitage.

Picasso Works

I also had the opportunity to see a ballet whilst in St Petersburg. Perhaps it was my mother’s passion for Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker or even the Disney film Anastasia, but I have always dreamt of experiencing the Russian Ballet. And indeed, ballet is one of the things for which Russia is known to the outside world. I saw the Ballet Le Corsaire at the Mariinsk Theater, which is currently in its 227^th Season. The music was a compilation of selections from Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pungi, Leo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, and Pyotr Oldenburgsky. The scenery to the ballet was amazing, comprised mostly of layers of ornately painted screens, but also a working fountain for one scene. The dancing was incredible. I very much enjoyed the choreography of Pyotr Gusev. It was an experience unlike any other and I am so thankful I had this opportunity. I will certainly never forget it. Below are some photos of the inside of the theater, before the performance started.