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Zinovy Margolin, production designer: "Over the past century, the exterior appearance of theatres has changed drastically. Previously, a theatre was an attribute of power. Like a royal palace, it had to dazzle with its luxuriousness. Today, the ideas are all focussed on the interior, and functionality has become much more important than what it looks like. Just take a look around – all contemporary theatres are very modest on the outside. Their beauty lies hidden in what they are able to do. From the point of view of its exterior, the new Mariinsky Theatre resembles most of the world’s major modern opera houses. It is the most functional theatre in Russia and one of the best equipped technically anywhere in Europe. The Mariinsky II has combined the experiences and technical innovations of recently built and renovated theatres throughout the world. It is absolutely clear to me that nothing remotely similar will appear elsewhere in Russia in the coming decades. And this has nothing to do with a lack of funds. It’s just that such a theatre can only be built around very important people in the arts world. Many things done at the theatre’s historic building have been, in a technical sense, of slightly the wrong size. Now productions that required the most tremendous effort from the whole team to bring them to life will be transferred to the new stage, where they will begin a new life. I don’t doubt that the Mariinsky II will join the world’s elite club of the most important theatre venues. Here life will boil and seethe, and there will be productions that it would previously have been impossible to stage in Russia. The new stage will be able to take any designs from any theatre and, of course, many will want to work there. And for me personally the Mariinsky II is a huge event, because Russia now has a venue of impeccable quality, the ideal place to bring any ideas whatever to life." |
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