slothis · English

Turandot at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg

2017-01-14 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Even though I was supposed to meet my girlfriend in Athens, Greece, there was only one reason I came back to St. Petersburg: to see a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre. In Moscow, I couldn't even get near the Bolshoi Theatre, and when I first got here, I only took pictures outside the building and left. But after seeing a short ballet and vocal performance on St. Petersburg's City Day, I just had to see a full show.

Before leaving for Tallinn, I really wanted to see the Mariinsky Ballet—world-renowned alongside the Bolshoi and Kyiv as one of the top three ballet companies—so I immediately booked tickets for Turandot. And it wasn't in the newly built Mariinsky II or III, but the historic Mariinsky Theatre (the original stage) that I had been dying to step inside. I stopped by Tallinn in a state of pure excitement, and tonight is finally the night!! (As those in the know will realize, Turandot is actually an opera. I must have been possessed by something to book it thinking it was a ballet, but the Mariinsky is incredibly famous for its operas too.)

The light green exterior wall of the Mariinsky Theatre building seen across the street under a cloudy sky.
I'm finally seeing a show in there!!

Arriving in St. Petersburg at dawn completely drained my energy. Trains and planes are somewhat manageable, but sleeping on a bus and sightseeing the next day is just impossible. It might vary from person to person, but please keep in mind that taking an overnight bus to save money and jumping straight into sightseeing the next day is a massive overreach. Otherwise, you'll be running on fumes...

I had no choice but to head back to the guesthouse and pay for another day. I said hi to everyone and went straight to sleep. When I woke up, it was 4 PM. I was supposed to meet Timur one last time, so I had to hurry, but all these damn taxis were trying to rip me off. Ugh, those jerks. I ended up being 30 minutes late, but kind-hearted Timur even bought me coffee and a hot dog. Oh man! Thank you so much!!! ㅠㅠ

After parting ways with Timur, I finally entered the Mariinsky Theatre I'd been dreaming of. Even though I boast complete ignorance and apathy when it comes to the arts, stepping into a place like this gets me excited. The only problem was that while everyone else was dressed to the nines in suits, I walked in looking like a beggar, carrying a 75L backpack on my back and a smaller one on my front. I've heard you can get kicked out of restaurants in Europe for looking like a bum, so once I got inside, I started to worry.

At the entrance, they check everyone's bags and bodies—not quite at an airport security level, but still. Thankfully, they seemed to understand I was a traveler and told me it was no problem as long as I checked my bags in the cloakroom. They even helped me out, telling my flustered self to take my time. The unsmiling yet relaxed kindness of the Russian people finally put my mind at ease.

A decorative Russian sign on the wall indicating the right section of the second floor.
A ticket for the Turandot performance held in the inner hallway of the Mariinsky Theatre.
The cheapest ticket. But hey, I'll take it.
The stage and orchestra pit looking down from inside the theater with ornate gold decorations and chandeliers.
Finally, I'm inside the 180-year-old Mariinsky Theatre!!!
A person standing in the theater balcony decorated with gold sculptures.
The kind of box seat where someone always gets assassinated in spy movies like 007, or where President Lincoln might have been shot.
A Turandot performance ticket in focus over the audience sitting in the theater seats.
Audience members sitting in the multi-level balconies of the ornate theater with lit chandeliers.
Even though there's still plenty of time before the show starts, the seats are almost full. And everyone looks as thrilled as if they're waiting for the Champions League final.
A grand stage curtain with ornate gold patterns and frills.
They probably change that curtain for every show, right? At a glance, the curtain looks 180 years old too.
A person sitting in a theater balcony decorated with ornate gold ornaments and curtains.
As expected, a prime royal seat for getting murdered. Thanks to the negative influence of movies, I feel like the people sitting in those gold-painted seats on the left and right are all doomed...
I should have just panned around slowly.. watching this makes me dizzy.

While I was playing around with my camera, the bell rang to announce the start of the performance. I thought it was a ballet when I booked it, but it started so intensely that I immediately realized, "Ah, it's an opera..." Ballets don't need subtitles, but operas do... and the subtitles were in Russian. I heard it was Act 3 of Turandot, but all I knew was that Turandot is a Chinese story; I had absolutely no idea about the plot. Will I actually be able to enjoy this?

My worries were completely unfounded because the music and singing were spectacular. Of course, I had no clue what the dialogue meant in the middle, but familiar tunes I'd briefly heard on TV kept playing, and before I knew it, I was completely immersed. On top of that, the stage and costumes were so gorgeous and captivating, even from far away, that the time just flew by.

I was watching in a daze when the intermission rolled around. Honestly, I didn't even realize it was a break and was a bit confused, but once I stepped outside, I instantly knew the show wasn't over. Seeing a sight I'd never witnessed in Korea made me realize, "Ah~ it's intermission." That sight was champagne.

There was an endless line at the champagne bar, and after getting a glass, people would gather in groups to drink. It was such a fascinating sight that I just stared blankly. In Korea, people might grab a quick sip of water or soda, and even then, not many actually drink anything. But here, there seems to be a shared mindset of, "If you're watching a show at the theater, of course you drink alcohol during the break!" As someone who loves a drink, I think it's a fantastic culture.

People gathered at a bar counter inside the theater with various bottles of liquor and glasses.
The line after it died down a bit.
People gathered and talking in the ornate theater lobby with a large chandelier hanging.
A circular mural of angels on the ceiling and a large, multi-tiered shining crystal chandelier.
The inside of the theater looking down from the upper floor, filled with ornate gold-decorated balconies and audience seats.
An ornate stage curtain seen beyond a large gold crown decoration on the balcony railing.
Ah, so that's the real royal box~
Crystal chandeliers hanging from a high ceiling decorated with intricate carvings and an oval mural.
An oval ceiling mural depicting flying figures inside intricate white molding decorations.
People talking while holding wine glasses on the stairs.
Please give me a glass too...

The bell rang again, and the second half began. And then came Nessun Dorma, a song you hear so often that you can't help but turn your head when it plays. Everyone was truly moved, and I was clapping with my mouth hanging wide open. (Of course, I only found out the song was Nessun Dorma by Googling it afterward.) Despite this incredible aria, the singer playing 'Liù' sang so unbelievably well that I couldn't help but think she was the real main character of Turandot. She delivered such a phenomenal performance that it made me realize the phrase "filling the theater with sound" is an actual, literal thing.

Even if it's a bit pricey, you absolutely, positively must see a performance in Russia, whether it's at the Mariinsky or the Bolshoi. I really hope you see one, even if it means giving up something else.

Two actors illuminated on a dark stage and the decorations behind them.
The final ending scene. You can't record the performance, so I only filmed the curtain call.
Orchestra members playing instruments in the dark orchestra pit.
Orchestra members playing instruments in the orchestra pit.
Actors in black clothes and other actors gathered around a round platform on the stage.
Several actors bowing to the audience on the stage.
An actor in gold clothes standing on a round platform in the center of the stage and other actors around them.
The King
An actor in gray clothes standing on a round platform in the center of the stage.
Timur
Three actors standing on the stage wearing colorful traditional costumes.
Ping, Pang, Pong
An actor in a blue costume bowing with open arms in the center of the stage.
Liù, who was practically the star of the show today. She received a massive round of applause.
An actor in a black costume bowing their head in the center of the stage.
Calaf
An actor standing on the stage wearing an ornate headpiece and a white costume.
Turandot

Obviously, I'm writing this after Googling the names. While watching, I had no idea what was going on and just enjoyed the music and dancing like I was watching an Indian Bollywood movie. Even so, I didn't feel like it was a waste of money at all. I'm a total layman and didn't understand the plot, just watching them dance and sing, but the anticipation radiating from the building and the excitement of the audience transferred to me, making it an incredibly fun experience.

Several actors standing on the stage holding hands and facing the audience.
Actors bowing their heads together on the stage.
Actors standing in the center of the stage holding hands and facing the audience.
Several actors bowing together while holding hands on the stage.
Actors in colorful costumes holding bouquets and bowing to the audience on the stage.
A large cast gathered on the stage bowing after the opera performance.
The main actors and the conductor standing in the center of the stage holding bouquets.
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!
A large crowd of people packed closely around the metal detectors in the theater lobby.
It's incredibly chaotic when leaving. Seeing this crowd is when I started worrying if I'd make it to the airport on time.
A Russian and English sign pointing to the bus stop for the airport.
Check-in counters inside a spacious airport terminal with a unique geometric ceiling structure.

I barely managed to get to the airport on time and am now finally off to Greece. This was all thanks to the people who were considerate of me, seeing my worried face and the massive load of luggage I was carrying. I have a one-day layover in Moscow tomorrow, but since I'll just be stuck at the airport, today is practically the last day of my Russian trip. Unlike what I'd heard back in Seoul, I met such wonderful people and had amazing experiences. Thank you, Russia, and bye-bye!!

Expenses

Total Expenses 1823RUB

Total Trip Expenses 525,936 KRW + 49,322RUB + $312.26 + €92.07