Ballet or Folk show?
 

Three friends and I are sailing on the May 16, 2009 departure of the Emerald Princess. We have two days in St. Petersburg and plan to book a tour with an independent company. We would really like to book entertainment for the first evening and wonder which is the best? Ballet or Folk Show? Anyone out there have suggestions? We really would enjoy both of them......but we can only do one. Also anyone know what the cost difference is?
Thanks to all of my fellow Fodorites in advance.
Suzie

It would be a matter of personal preference, but I would prefer to see the folk show--something unique to the place I'm visiting. Of course, if you don't live in an area that has a good ballet company, the ballet would be just as unique to you as the folk show.

I am somewhat culturally challenged so my opinion will not be as important as some of the others you get here, but because I knew my wife would like either choice, there was not doubt in my mind that I would much rather go to see the Kirov Ballet rather than a folkloric performance. The Kirov is actually the Marinsky Theatre. I enjoyed being there and even wound up enjoying the performance (which is hard for a die hard Texas football fan to admit). But even more so, I enjoyed the thrill of being in one of the most famous ballet venues in the world. By the way, there is an easy online ticketing process for which ever you choose to go to. See earlier forums on Fodors for web sites.

We went to both the ballet and folk show in St Petersburg. We enjoyed both of them. If you could only see one, then I would recommend the folk show. We enjoyed the dancing and the costumes and the music.

Went to one folk show and after the first two dances it was incredibly tedious - they all looked alike.

Went to another show tht was essentailly vaudeville (reco'd bya local - and not worth the $5 we paid).

If you have only one night definitely do the ballet. We saw Anna Karenina, sharing a box with 2 very gussied up local ladies of a certain age) and had a great time. Not often you can see this quality company (unless your home city has one). And they do have programs in English.

I think it totally depends on whether you like ballet or not. Those folk shows can be bad to good, but I've enjoyed several very much in other countries. I've also seen an outstanding Russian folk group performing in the US, so if it were like that, I'd see it.

I love ballet, actually, but I can see many top companies where I live all year, including the Kirov.

I would like to go to both as I lvoe dance performance, but I am guessing you don't go to ballet regularly, as you didn't even name the ballet they will be doing, which makes a big difference to me when I decided these things. I think ballet can often be an acquired taste and some ballets can be really boring, actually, even to me (I took lessons for many years and used to be accompanist for a ballet company, so it is of special interest to me and I know the ballets, music and steps, but if you didn't, I know a lot of people wouldn't find it so fascinating).

The folk shows are usually a kind of cheap, touristy staff - but you can have fun (especially if you are in a group and fill up with vodka).

The Mariinsky is a very special experience. The performances, although in traditional style, are highest quality. Ballet and opera (usually with a ballet section) are equally good.

And the building is overwhelming. What I like most: Having a portion of ossietra caviar and a glass of good Russian wine in the pause (dirt cheap).

Your independent tour will get tickets and transportation for you. We drove back to the ship after our tour in the afternoon, redressed, had a quick dinner on the ship and drove to the Mariinsky. Worked out perfectly. (We used Anastasia as a tour company which was perfect and somewhat less expensive than Alla and the others. http://www.anastasiaworld.com/)

BTW, no need to book the expensive tickets. The medium-priced seats are still good enough. You can select your tickets online.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/

Sounds like you would enjoy either and as others have stated, it's all a matter of personal preference, but we couldn't have enjoyed more than seeing a performance of the Kirov while in St Petersburg. The next day we went to a music shop and purchased a CD of the music from the performance we'd see and think of that performance whenever we listen to it!

Thanks for posting the Marinsky site. I am doing a home exchange in Finland next summer for about 3 weeks and am planning to go to St. Petersburg afterwards. I have been to St. Petersburg once before and hope to go to the Marinsky because I did not get to do it the last time.

Folk or ballet? Well, as others have said, it depends on what you like. If you are not a "culture vulture", you'd probably enjoy the folk show more.

See, this is why this website is so helpful. Everyone gives their opinion and you simply choose what you feel is best for you! I thank each and every one of you who took the time to answer.
The planning continues!
Talk to you all soon.
Once I go on this trip, I will enter my info into this thread.
What goes around, comes around.
Suzie

A few years ago we visited St. Petersburg on a cruise, and there were shore excursions for opera, folklore and ballet shows. From our experience, these were performances especially designed for cruise and other tours, and not regular performances. The opera and ballet were usually excerpts, and not full works However, they werenone the less enjoyable outings.

So, out of curiosity, I looked at the Princess site to find out a little more about the ballet show. It is performed by the St. Petersburg Ballet (a troupe recently formed--1994) at the Conservatoire Theatre, not the famed Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky.

However, unless one is a real ballet aficionado, I'm sure that the performance will be a good one, and the Conservatoire, while not as famous as the Mariinsky, is nonetheless a historic and impressive building.

You also asked about cost. According to the Princess website, the ballet starts at $99 and the folklore at $79.

I'm sure that you will enjoy either show, as they are designed to have broad appeal to their selected audiences.

A few years ago we visited St. Petersburg on a cruise, and there were shore excursions for opera, folklore and ballet shows. From our experience, these were performances especially designed for cruise and other tours, and not regular performances. The opera and ballet were usually excerpts, and not full works However, they are none the less enjoyable outings.

So, out of curiosity, I looked at the Princess site to find out a little more about the ballet show. It is performed by the St. Petersburg Ballet (a troupe recently formed--1994) at the Conservatoire Theatre, not the famed Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky.

I noted that you plan to book with an independent tour company, but I think that these tours are very similar, if not identical to those provided by the cruise lines (through local tour wholesalers).

However, unless one is a real ballet aficionado, I'm sure that the performance will be a good one, and the Conservatoire, while not as famous as the Mariinsky, is nonetheless a historic and impressive building.

You also asked about cost. According to the Princess website, the ballet starts at $99 and the folklore at $79.

I'm sure that you will enjoy either show, as they are designed to have broad appeal to their selected audiences.

Sorry for the double post. I attempted to amend by adding a para about independent tours, but both came through.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this valuable info!
We are doing a tour with either Alla or Denrus and, hopefully, they will arrange this side excursion.
Lots of planning to do for our 10 day cruise!
Regards!
Suzie

The best tickets at the Mariinsky are 92 $, good tickets (Benois, Belle Etage) are 71$.

Check to see if there is a folk show on board your cruise ship. That may help you decide. On my Russian river cruise we had local folk dancers get on board at different stops to entertain us. A little went a long way after seeing a few of them.

definitely ballet, folk show you can see on the YouTube:)