Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre has a rich history dating back to 1860. The historic opera and ballet venue has entertained thousands with the works of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and other legendary Russian composers. Named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II, the storied theatre is now home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera, and Mariinsky Orchestra.

The Mariinsky Theatre, image by Flickr user Fotorus via Creative Commons

To complement the 1860-built structure and the nearby Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall which opened in 2007, the 2,000-seat Second Stage was constructed. Work on the original vision, a competition-winning design by French architect Dominique Perrault, was halted following bloated budgets, design issues, and lack of compliance with Russian building codes. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced a new competition in 2009, from which Canadian firm Diamond and Schmitt Architects and local partner KB ViPS Architects emerged victorious.

The Second Stage under construction in September 2011, image retrieved from Google Street View

The project was hyped as Russia's most important building project in 70 years, with Jack Diamond proclaiming the development "the first major opera house to be built in Russia since the Czars." Built on top of the foundation for Perrault's unfinished structure, the €500 million Second Stage was completed in 2013. Upon opening, the interior was praised for its acoustics and modern lobby, which is bisected by straight and spiral glass staircases. Where the modernity of the interior was generally well received, the exterior design shaped by a fenestrated masonry base and large bay windows was criticized by some intellectuals for being too restrained and plain. Others, particularly Saint Petersburg residents, believe the new building clashes with the existing historic built form of the city. Despite the opinions about the exterior finish, the scale of the building graciously continues the urban form established by the old city streetscape.

The completed Second Stage in July 2015, image retrieved from Google Street View

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