Museum of Musical and Theatrical Art: description, history, features, exhibitions and reviews

The Museum of Theater and Music in St. Petersburg has one of the best expositions in the world. The funds hold many unique exhibits, collected together by enthusiasts and experts in their field. The formation was not simple, but today a complex of museums united under a single wing realizes the mission of preserving and multiplying Russian cultural heritage and enlightening the masses.

Start

The first exhibition devoted to the theatrical art was held in 1908, the venue was the Panayevsky Theater. The number of visitors and the lively interest of the public to the exposition demonstrated the urgent need for a permanently functioning similar institution in St. Petersburg. But the Museum of theatrical and musical art was held much later - in 1918.

The director was appointed PN Sheffer, and his deputy - Zheverzheyev LI Both made a huge contribution to the development of the national culture, their works during the siege of Leningrad were saved many exhibits, and the life of the gallery did not freeze. The Museum of Music and Theater Arts was opened for visits in 1921. In the lecture-room, accessible to all comers, lectures were given by outstanding people of their time - Koni A., Volkonsky S., Soloviev V., Meyerhold V. and others. Speakers Utesov L., Davydov V., Korchagina - Aleksandrovskaya E., Mayakovsky V. in 1927 read the theatrical script "October 27, 1917", which formed the basis of the poem "Good." The premiere of Shostakovich's 2nd piano sonata was held in the museum.

Blockade days

In 1930 the history of the museum almost ended, from the occupied premises all were evicted. For seven years, the exposition was packed in boxes and stored in a private apartment. The State Museum of Theater and Musical Art found a permanent place only in 1940, and the staff began work on a new exhibition. The opening took place on May 31, 1941, a new exposition was presented, more than 206 thousand items were stored in the museum's funds. It seemed that the light period had begun, but after 3 weeks the war came.

A few months later, the blockade of Leningrad began. 900 days the city and its inhabitants experienced the most painful period of history. Many museums, theaters were evacuated, but the cultural life continued. Aviation raids and bombings were recorded in magazines, short records read records of losses, feelings, selflessness, silent deed of duty and honor. Levkevich Zheverzheyev died in the walls of the museum, it happened in a terrible blockade in January 1942, a little later, in March, died from exhaustion PN Sheffer. During the blockade of the eight staff members of the museum, only three remained alive. The resumption of exhibition activity began on November 17, 1946.

Description

At present, the St. Petersburg State Museum of Theater and Music is one of the world's largest museums, its funds hold more than 450,000 items that tell the story of the ballet, opera and drama theaters of Russia. The complex includes five branches:

• Theatrical museum.
• Museum of Music.
• Museum-apartment of Rimsky-Korsakov N.A.
• Shalyapin House-Museum F.I.
• Museum-apartment actors Samoilov.

The collection has unique authentic exhibits from different eras. Theater costumes, embroidered in the imperial workshops, coexist with modern scenic images of Anna Pavlova, Natalia Makarova, etc. A large number of exhibits are dedicated to M. Glinka, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, Marius Petipa, Vera Komisarzhevskaya and others.

The exposition of musical instruments includes more than three thousand items of storage, as much as scenic costumes are stored , a wardrobe used in theatrical productions of the imperial scenes of Russia is exhibited. In addition to the main activities, the museum's sites and branches are educational centers for children and adults. Here lectures are given, musical and theatrical evenings are held, prominent cultural figures of Russia and abroad are invited here.

The Melpomene Museum

The Museum of Theater Arts in St. Petersburg is located on Ostrovsky Square, in a building built in the 19th century (architect - Rossi K.). Prior to the revolution, it housed the Directorate of Imperial Theaters. The building is an architectural monument, and behind its facade are the best exhibits dedicated to the Russian theater.

The permanent exposition "Theatrical legends of Petersburg" was awarded several times to the highest score - "Museum Olympus". It is divided into six thematic sections, allowing to trace the history of the Russian theater from the sources to the moment of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The exhibits tell the story of the first productions on the Russian stage of Nikolai Gogol's play The Inspector General, the opera Life for the Tsar by Mikhail Glinka, Tchaikovsky's operas, Ostrovsky's plays and many others. Detailed stories of guides tell about the work, creativity, innovations of V. Meyerhold, V. Komissarzhevskaya, F. Shalyapin, K. Malevich, A. Benois and others.

Another exposition is the Magic World of the Theater. Visitors get acquainted with theaters of different countries and continents, their layouts are located in the halls. You can consider Shakespeare's Globe, the Ancient Theater, the Swedish Royal Theater, etc. The exhibition invites you to look behind the scenes of theatrical stage, where a rare viewer manages to get to. Tourists get acquainted with the sham business, sound effects and theatrical machines. The exhibition is interactive, try to generate sounds of thunder, the sound of rain or a shot can not be left from the museum halls.

The Museum of Musical and Theatrical Art not only preserves the cultural heritage, but also is an active participant in the culturological sphere. There are regular excursions for children and adults, lecture series are given, theatrical productions and musical concerts are given, prominent actors, directors, figures of cinema, theater act. The cultural and educational complex is visited by more than 150 thousand people during the year.

Branches

Each of the four branches that make up the complex of the Museum of Musical and Theatrical Art, has its own exhibits and a unique history.

• The Museum of Music is located in the estate of Count Sheremetevs. It is located at: embankment of the Fontanka River, building 34. The building was built in 1750. Once on the tour, visitors get acquainted with the history of the palace and with the current exhibitions. The permanent exhibition "Sheremetevs and the musical life of Petersburg XVIII - early XX centuries" contains more than three thousand musical instruments from around the world. Special programs have been developed for children.
• House-Museum of FI Shalyapin (Graftio Street, house 2B). The year of discovery is 1975. After restoration, interior decoration was restored in all rooms of the house, which became possible thanks to the efforts of the curator IG Dvoryschina. In addition to the dwelling of the singer, it was possible to recreate the make-up room of Shalyapin, located in the Mariinsky Theater. The museum keeps letters, personal things, posters of theatrical productions, theatrical costumes of the owner of the house.
• House-Museum of Rimsky-Korsakov (Ave Zagorodny, house 28). The memorial house museum was opened in 1971. In this house the composer lived the last fifteen years and wrote the most famous works. In the memorial part of the museum personal belongings are presented and the situation in which the composer created was recreated. The rest of the room was reconstructed and an exposition of documentary evidence of Rimsky-Korsakov's life is demonstrated. The music room of the memorial house invites to concerts, the hall is designed for 50 people.
• Museum-apartment of the family of actors Samoilovs (Stremyannaya street, building 8. Refers to the hotel "Corinthia St. Petersburg"). The branch became the only small museum dedicated to the acting profession in St. Petersburg. The memorial part of the exposition tells about the dynasty of actors, numbering 3 generations of Melpomene servants. Another exhibition is dedicated to ballet art - "Stars of Russian Ballet". In addition to the usual museum activities, creative meetings, concerts, exhibitions, etc. are held here.

The Museum of Theater and Musical Art (SPb) enables every visitor to plunge into the sphere that is most interesting at the moment. History and modernity are intertwined in exhibition halls and on chamber grounds, creating a single cultural space.

Education

Educational programs for adults, children and schoolchildren of all age groups. The youngest get acquainted with the museum in a playful form. For example, the thematic excursion "Elephant in the Museum" gives an opportunity to ask the guide questions, to visit the master class on modeling and get a lot of impressions. Junior students get knowledge of theatrical art on interactive excursions, trying their hand at creating scenery, writing scripts, acting or getting acquainted with the history of the theater on a permanent display.

Schoolchildren of middle and senior classes receive knowledge that significantly complements the school curriculum. Visiting exhibition halls make the works of the masters of the word alive, expand the time frame, add credibility to the words, and the authors themselves become closer and more modern. Adults, visiting the Museum of Musical and Theatrical Art, during their excursions will deepen their knowledge of literature, the drama of theatrical plays, they will be able to get acquainted with the history of creation and development of the theater, admire the scenery, costumes, and visit cultural events that are constantly held on the basis of museum halls.

Lectures

Coming to the Museum of Music and Dramatic Art, each visitor can count on replenishing the coin box of knowledge. There is one more important task that the funds fulfill: the preservation of video materials and the provision of an opportunity to get acquainted with them. In the video lecture hall there are regular sessions of demonstration of archival records of theatrical dramatic performances, opera performances, ballets. Here lectures are given, a lot of time and effort is given to organizing evenings with the participation of creative intelligentsia.

Exhibitions

Each museum has permanent exhibitions, on the basis of which there are many thematic excursions. The Museum of Theater and Music Arts is also active in exhibition activities and enlightenment. Exhibitions are an integral part of his daily work. In the museum halls they are held many: in 2016 in the Shalyapin House Museum, everyone can see a series of exhibitions "St. Petersburg Montmartre", in the front yard (Palace of the Sheremetevs) until the end of October, you can visit "inside music" by visiting the "Concert for eight chairs" . The list of exhibitions is constantly updated.

Reviews

Reviews about the museum are only positive, and how can it be otherwise. Visitors note interesting expositions, the work of guides, the beauty of the halls and the loving attitude of staff to work. For children, interactive exhibitions are interesting, where you can touch the exhibits and try your hand at recreating any theatrical effects. For excursionists, it was useful to view the materials using a computer. The presentation of information is presented together with excerpts of performances, operas, ballets, carefully preserved by the State Museum of Theater / Music.

Those who came to the thematic exhibitions, noted the completeness of the submission of materials, the disclosure of the facets of talent and personality of a famous figure of culture or art. According to the visitors, it is very interesting to see not only the fragments of the productions, but also "to visit" at rehearsals, to feel the atmosphere of creativity. Many noted the unique ballet class for children, conducted under the guidance of N. Tsiskaridze. Also for younger visitors there are quests, games, in passing acquainting with the history and allowing to try themselves in the creative business.

Helpful information

Museum cash offices work from Thursday to Sunday almost all day (11:00 to 19:00). Weekend falls on Tuesday, another non-working day - the last Friday of every month. On Wednesdays, a visit to the museum is available from 13:00 to 21:00, but the cashier's office stops on that day 1 hour earlier. For children and pensioners, there is a discount for entrance tickets (50 rubles according to the price list in 2016).

All the basic information about the ongoing and planned events can be obtained at: Ostrovsky Square, Building 6, Museum of Theater and Music. The poster of all events and exhibitions is constantly updated. Schedule of visits to interesting events can be made in advance.