Home Theater
The Yusupov Theater was a private theater, distinguished by its informal atmosphere. Members of the Yusupov family and other aristocratic families took part in amateur performances on the stage of the Home Theater. The Emperor and members of his family often attended these performances.
The palace had its own serf orchestra. Its musicians played the clarinet, flute, bassoon, French horn, oboe, trumpet, double bass and violin. Contemporaries noted that Prince Yusupov's orchestra was exceptionally good. In February 1836, an orchestral rehearsal of the first act of Mikhail Glinka's opera A Life for the Tsar took place at the palace. The composer accompanied the musicians on the grand piano. (Or “I played along with them (the musicians) on the piano,” as the composer himself wrote.)
Prince N. B. Yusupov the Younger was an amateur violinist, a pupil of the great Henri Vieuxtemps, and an honorary member of the Paris Conservatoire, the Roman Academy of Music and the Philharmonic Society of Bologna.
Renowned musicians performed at the theater: the Belgian virtuoso cellist Adrien-François Servais, the outstanding violinists Charles de Bériot and Henri Vieuxtemps, and the composer and pianist Franz Liszt. The prince was also well acquainted with Hector Berlioz.
From 1853 to 1856, the Austrian composer, violinist and conductor Ludwig Minkus (1826–1917) served as Kapellmeister of Prince N. B. Yusupov's orchestra. In 1861, the prince invited composer and conductor Eduard Nápravník (1839–1916) to become Kapellmeister; he later became chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater.
Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna, whose monogram can be seen above the princely box and the side boxes of the theater, continued the family's theatrical traditions.
“My mother had a natural talent for dancing and acting, and she danced and performed as well as any actress. At a ball in the palace, where the guests wore 17th-century boyar costumes, the Emperor asked her to perform a Russian dance. She stepped forward without any preparation, but danced so beautifully that the musicians had no difficulty accompanying her. She was called back five times,” recalled her son, Prince Felix Yusupov.
The repertoire of the Home Theater at Yusupov Palace is extensive and regularly updated. You can enjoy performances of classical operas and sparkling operettas, excerpts from Russian ballets, and theatrical productions for children.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Home Theater of the Yusupov princes!
You can find the performance schedule and learn more about the productions on our official website.
Tickets are available at the Yusupov Palace ticket offices, on our official website in the “Buy Ticket” section, and at theater ticket offices throughout the city. If you have any questions, please contact our Ticket Desk.