Russian ballet
 

We have the option to attend Swan Lake in august at the Mariinsky theater or the Alexandrinsky theater...anyone have advice?

I saw La Sylphide at Mariinski last night...the theatre is very lovely, not big, elegant.
I have seen Alexandrinsky from the outside...looks impressive , it is easier to get to
if you are staying near Nevsky.
Have no ides which company is more famous.

we are on a cruise ship---is one closer than the other?

sorry, don't know where the ship will be located.

I haven't been to either, but am a balletomane so am familiar with what they look like and the companies. neither is a world-famous company, that preformance will not be by the Mariinsky/Kirov Ballet because they are on recess in August. It is by the Leonid Yakobson Ballet Theatre company. Now he was an interesting, innovative choreographer and I would love to see that company doing something of his, but not Swan Lake, which is funny that's what they are performing as I think he hated it (just because it was the most done ballet in Russia). It is a well-reviewed company for more contemporary works so I suppose they can pull that off and it could be interesting. A lot of companies periodically do the classics as audiences want that. Here is their notice of this productions, it it new with new sets and costumes, so it's what I would choose http://www.yacobsonballet.ru/en/news...-lake-premiere

At the Alexandrinsky theatre, it is their own ballet company which is not top tier but should be adequate.

Both theaters are beautiful but I would go to the Mariinsky myself because I prefer the coloring which is softer and more beautiful to me (cream, gold, blue). The Alexandrinsky is the old typical red everywhere decor which I don't care for in theaters, always looks old-fashioned and garish to me. I know it is old but I don't like it (Kennedy Center Opera House in DC is like that). Neither theater has plush seats like most in the US do, they both have wooden armchairs, although with some padding on the seat.

Your description of Mariinsky is spot on.
I though it was the loveliest theatre I have see.

One added attraction was seeing the Russian women in evening dresses.
Something we (in North America )seldom do for the theatre.

seen

Yes - we saw Anna Karenina at the Mariinsky and it is a lovely theater. Shared a box with 2 russian ladies of a certain age. The box had 4 wooden chairs - not fixed to the floor and with minimal padding. But they did have programs in English - which the elderly lady who seated us handed to us as soon as she saw our clothes (not evening but definitely not russian).

The Russian ladies were definitely out for the evening: sateen cocktail dresses in very bright colors, lots of make-up and strong perfume and hair piled high and sprayed into obedience.

We were all very polite to each other - but none spoke more than a few words of the others' language so we did a lot of nodding and smiling.

But - I'm not sure that is enough if this is going to be a very modern interpretation.