Oceania's St. Petersburg Ballet Excursion

[HI-CB]

Has anyone taken the Regatta's Ballet Excursion? The description sounds as if it is a "just for the tourists" thing e.g., at a music school. Does anyone have any experience with this one? Any personal experience on this would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

Hi-CB:confused:

[tcad1]

We took the ballet shore excursion to the Conservatoire Theater in June where we saw "Swan Lake". Being a retired music educator, I found the performance delightful and not "touristy".

 

Having attended the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre which is right across the street several years ago for "Giselle", my wife and I had the opportunity to contrast and compare the two.

 

The Russians have always taken their ballet seriously. Both the Conservatoire and the Mariinsky are ballet schools that have brought forth many great performers. Granted the Mariinsky has had many big names that have landed here.

 

The corps was wonderful in "Swan Lake". They are precise and young but very talented. You don't hear the sound of the "feet on boards" as loud as you do in the Mariinsky but it still is there. The male dancer is talented but not terribly tall; this was a handicap to the prima but not that much. The prima is very good and aesthetic. The orchestra was accomplished, but the middle strings had some intonation problems (the normal concert goer would not probably notice).

If you go to Russia, your experience will be enhanced if you attend a classical ballet. The shore excursion allows you to be transported there and back, be escorted, and have a champagne toast during the first interval.

 

If you really want to compare and contrast, go to the Mariinsky the other free night that you are in St. Petersburg if there is a "classic" being performed. You will have to do this by yourself, but it is not that difficult. Ask the shore excursion desk.

[naustin]

If you use a private tour operator such as Red October, they can also arrange ballet tickets.