The State Hermitage Museum Writes to Inform You

8 February 2013. Commentary by the General Director of the State Hermitage Museum, M. Piotrovsky on the discussion that has emerged around the new building of the Mariinsky Theater.

Regarding selective quotations

Due to the incorrect use of my name and opinion regarding the new building of the Mariinsky Theater that is currently under construction, I would like to clarify the following:
The concern that has arisen surrounding the as of yet unfinished construction is probably worrying reminiscent of the public and professional outcry against Perrault’s beautiful design, which was developed through a very well organized international competition.
It is precisely that wave of protests that “killed” that project and made it necessary to look for the quick, simple and cheap solution that we have now. The community ought to take a look at itself and not call for radical measures once again.

People need to understand that “I don’t like it” doesn’t mean “it isn’t good”, that the most important thing in a theater is its internal organization and equipment. In any case, we ought to wait for construction to be finished before the protest choir starts up.

We have to remember that this is the first design by a “star” foreign architect, the first one for many decades to be built in our city. Many of them were killed as a result of active public and professional sabotage.

We ought not to exaggerate neither the value of the buildings that were demolished, nor the aesthetic worth of the old theater building, nor the beauty of the ensemble surrounding it.

The only serious complaint, as opposed to those based on take, is the bridge across the Kryukov canal. It should be movable.

There are a lot of buildings in Petersburg that I don’t like, including the Singer House, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and the Cossack House in the line of the Maple Alley. That doesn’t mean that they should be demolished. If we plan to go after every new building without even letting the plaster dry, we will always have what we have today.
The Mariinsky Theater as a phenomenon and an organism is one of the few symbols of Petersburg that is known around the world. They decided to build the new building because a great theater needed it. The opinion of the theater itself and its manager must be the deciding factor in how the result is evaluated when we finally have it.

And, for God’s sake, don’t confuse the Mariinsky Theater building with the Gazprom tower and “Mont Blanc”. Otherwise, we’ll deserve that tower, and much more, and worse. We won’t like it one bit.

Mikhail Piotrovsky
Director of the State Hermitage Museum,
Distinguished Citizen of Petersburg, President of the World Club of Petersburgers,
President of the Union of Museums of Russia

08.02.2013