Will be doing a Viking River Cruise Moscow to St. Pete's beginning on October 10th.

Saw this performance and wondered if anyone had ever seen it.

Not sure what our cruise has in store for us re: folkloric music/dance, but would perhaps consider this on our own.

You get food and drinks too.

My favorite line in the description is: "During a break - live music is playing, beauties in crinolines are dancing for you ". Ha.

http://www.balletandopera.com/index....8&page=catalog

This is a very good folk show and it is presented in a real palace - the interiors are beautiful. Your cruise line will probably include it in the tour itinerary at least as an option.

IMHO these folkloris shows are way too much of a muchness. I have seen them in several countries,including Russia and Mexico. I am not talking about cheesy gigantic group dinner/ folksy shows - but those by the official national folk company. They are OK for 1 or 2 dances - but after that all the dances start to run togehter. (When we saw the one in Russia we walked out after the 3rd dance and went to find a decent dinner - since the one that came with the package was inedible)>

If you want an evening out in St Pet strongly reco you head for the Ballet at the Kirov - where you will see a word class troup at a bargain price - notthe $100 plus you would have topay in the US>

I think I'm in NYtraveler's camp. If it is on your tour, fine. Otherwise I also agree with the ballet suggestion.

I think I'm in NYtraveler's camp. If it is on your tour, fine. Otherwise I also agree with the ballet suggestion.

I think I'm in NYtraveler's camp. If it is on your tour, fine. Otherwise I also agree with the ballet suggestion.

nytraveler, and Gretchen, Gretchen, Gretchen -

I know what you means by repetitious. I find most folk dance basically variations on a theme.

Saw the Kirov a few weeks ago here in NY at Lincoln Center. They did "Anna Karenina". Unfortunately it is a terrible ballet. The choreography was quite boring (I'm a former dancer and choreographer). So I doubt that we will be seeing them in St. Pete's although I <u>would</u> like to see the theatre. Wonder if you can without buying a ticket for a performance.

Also, perhaps the the Bolshoi will be in town in Moscow.

I saw this performance whilst in St Petersburg in May, and it was delightful. I often go into these things with low expectations, but I was most pleasantly surprised.

WE saw Anna Karenina in St pet. Agree that it'sn ot exactly sparkling. More bsed on the Soviet model of full employment - there alway seem to be lots of groups of people procesing about>

But it was still about 10 times better than the fold show.

The theater is beautiful and there was some excellent dancing by the leads. Plus we were in an elevated box with 2 Russian ladies of a certain age (drenched in perfurme, gigantic hairdos and their best sateen dresses). They were amazed at American being there (you can get a program in English) and we did lots of smiling and nodding as well as the 25 words of each other's languages that we had. They were very impressed that I had seen both Barishnykov and Nureyev at Lincoln Center.

kenav, in St P in October you may get lucky with some performances in the Hermitage Theatre of Swan Lake still on. These are usually by the State Theater of Classical Ballet, (the Russian Ballet Theatre also puts on performances of Giselle at the Hermitage), and are great performances in a beautiful setting. You could also try to get seats to a performance at the Kirov (Mariinsky) if there are any on in October (there should be, but not daily so you may get lucky with the dates you're there). Don't think they offer tours or visits inside without performances. And yes, "Anna Karenina" is not the best example of their dancing, so don't dismiss seeing them in St P based on that. You could always do this in addition to the "beauties in crinolines dancing for you"!

Otherwise definitely try for tickets to the Bolshoi - absolutely stunning whether in the Bolshoi theatre (if they ever finish the renovations - end of October apparently) or nearby Civic theatres.

Just looked up the Bolshoi's schedule. Unfortunately, they begin "Swan Lake" the evening we leave Moscow.

Goodness, I didn't MEAN to be that emphatic!! LOL

Nytraveler,

Given your background and your outlook (and no, I am not going to engage in one of these absolutely useless pissing contests about the "modernity" etc. of the Bolshoi style, etc., etc.) I think you might want to lower your expectations about ANY performance in both St. Pete and Moscow. Instead, why don't you concentrate on seeing something that New York DOESN'T have such as the 3 million works in the Hermitage?