State Classical Circus of St. Petersburg (established 1827) - The Chinizelli circus SCHEDULE for State Classical Circus of St. Petersburg (established 1827) - The Chinizelli circus 2022
Circus performances had a great success among citizens of St-Petersburg even in
XVII century. They were held at squares during folk holidays in Maneges that
were used for horse riding training. In XIX century special circus buildings
were built. But they were wooden and not very comfortable. The first
constant circus - "Turnier circus" was built in 1827 on the same place where the
present circus is. More than 120 years ago, on 26 December 1877, there was the
opening of the Circus on Fontanka - the first in Russia stone building, built
according to the specific parameters of circuses (the architect - V.A. Kenel).
This date is a birthday of the Circus on Fontanka. The initiative of circus
building belonged to the Italian actor, horseman and trainer Gaetano Chinizelli
- the head of the big circus family that came on tour to Petersburg in
1847. The building of a new circus thought to be one of the most
beautiful circuses building in Europe. It adored the contemporaries by its
perfect proportions and chaming decorations: figures of muses in arch-shaped
windows, allegoric sculpture group in the centre of ledge with theatrical masks,
frontones with goreliefs of horseheads. The circus inside was also elegant -
spectator hall was well dressed by gold imitations, pink velvet, mirrors,
crystal lamps, with the writing on the shade "with different typical images from
voltige world". The Chinizelli circus (it was called so until the revolution)
played an important role in the development of circus art in Russia. The best
actors from all over the world performed there - famous clowns Billi Gaiden and
Jakomino, grotesque horsewoman Ms. Adel and air gymnast Ms. Zinobia, the
favorite of aristocracy the rider James Fillis, Russian clowns, trainers and
brothers Anatoly and Vladimir Durovy. Smart decorated pantomimes and water show
- "Chinderella", "Robert and Beltram", Fiametta - the queen of robbers",
"Nibelungs" and others were held in the circus, also there were championships of
very popular in that time classical fight. To visit Chinizelli Circus for
aristocracy thought to be as fashionable as to first Mikhailovsky Theatre. A.I.
Kuprin, D.V. Grigorovuch, A.A. Blok and F.I. Shalyapin were among the fans of
that circus. In 1919 Chinizelli Circus became state, and in 1924 V.G. Tuzzi -
a talanted producer, organizer, great actor and horse trainer became the first
director of Leningrad Circus. 20-30s years - is a period of coming -to-be of the Soviet
Circus. And though there were some foreign names on the posters, soviet actors
became the leaders at the circus manege. That time in Leningrad Circus there
were the performances of a popular clown - satirist Vitaly Lasarenko, musical
clowns brothers Tanti, carpetmen Franz and Friz, gymnasts A. and M. Shiray,
rope-walkers the Sviridins, trainer A.N. Alexandrov-Fedotov and others. At the
Leningrad Manege the carpetman Pavel Alexeevitch (P.A. Alexeev) was the first
who changed the traditional mask of "Red" into ordinary comical image, and clown
M.N. Rumyancev became a famous Karandash (Pencil). For its great creative
merits in 1939 the Leningrad Circus was awarded by the Order of Labor Red
Banner. The Great Patriotic War and the blockade broke the circus activity.
It was opened again in 1944, 28 November. The postwar period of creative life of
Leningrad Circus is connected with the activity of Honored Artist G.S.Venezianov
- the art-director of Leningrad Circus from 1946 till 1965. At the same time
studios of musical clownery and horse acrobatics were created at Leningrad
Circus, some of its artist have been working at Manage till nowadays. Art fortune of many famous artists is connected with the
Circus on Fontanka. A great trainer B.P. Manzhelli created his turns together
with G.S. Venezianov, who was a great master of horse genre. E.T.Kio worked
there in renewing his illusion attraction. Here in Leningrad "The Bear Circus"
of Valentin Filatov started its art life. G.S.Venezianov paid great attention to
clownery genre. A great carpetman Boris Vyatkin had been working there for
eleven seasons. Actors D.Demash and Gmozel performed in genre of buffoonery
clownery, original carpetman Konstantin Musin showed his talant. The best
creative traditions continued to life in Leningrad (St-Petersburg) circus in
last decades. The arena of Leningrad Circus has been decorated with art
dynasties of the Durovs, the Filatovs, the Zapashnyes, the Olhovikovs, the
Volchanskies, Kio, the Alexandrov-Serzhes, the Kohs, the Kantemirovs. Here
worked great clowns - Yury Nikulin, Mikhail Shuidin, Oleg Popov, Leonid
Engibarov, Evgeniy Mayhrovsky, Gennady Makovsky, Genrih Rotman, Anatoly
Marchevsky, Yuriy Kuklachov, famous trainers - Irina Bugrimova, Margarita
Nazarova, Ludmila and Vladimir Shevenko, Boris Biryukov,
Nikolai Pavlenko, Irina and Ivan Yarovye, Ludmila and Vladimir Deryabkiny,
Dzhigit group of Tamerlan Nugzarov, juggler Sergei Ignatov, illusionists Lyubov
and Anatoly Sudarchikovy, air flight of Vladimir Garamov and many other masters
of Manege. Composers V.Soloviev-Sedoi, O.Chromushin, A.Kavlarsky, G.Firtich,
Ya.Duravin; Poets: S.Orlov, V.Toropygin, M.Dudin, V.Syslov, O.Chuprov; script
writers: A.Minchkovsky, A.Barten, I.Turichin, K.Ryzhov, M.Fradkin and
Y.Pogorelsky, I.Vinogradsky; Artists: V.Ryndin, T.Bruns, C.Mandel, V.Galba,
O.Orevin, and others have cooperated with the Circus on Fontanka. In August
1928 in the building of Leningrad circus under initiative of Theatre
Schoolteacher V.Y.Andreev the museum of Circus and Stage was opened (now - the
Museum of Circus Art). It was the first and the only institution of such a way.
Till now in the museum has stayed a unique collection where there are materials
and documents that reflect the history of not only native, but also foreign
circus. The museum funds attract the attention of cinema and TV directors,
actors, art critics, students and circus fans. There are excursions for children
and adults. The museum is in international correspondence and changes the
materials with foreign artists of circus and collectors from different
countries. In 1994 St-Petersburg Circus and academy of Theatre Art organized
the recruitment of students for studying the specialization - actor and director
of circus and stage. St-Petersburg Circus is one of the leading producing
circuses of our country. There are pantomimes, theme performances, plays for
children.
Circus has been re-opened on December 18, 2015 after a
two-year restoration. The refurbishment of an interior was successfuly finished.
After the reconstruction the amount of the seats will be less: only 1700 instead
of 2200, but they will be more comfortable with better view. An advanced sound
and lighting system has also been installed. And after this
reconstruction Circus on Fontanka got its original name back - The
Chinizelli circus.
Children under 5 years can go for free, if they will be
on your laps
St.Petersburg State Circus hall plan
Seats: 2345
Address: Fontanka embankment, 3
, see map
SCHEDULE for State Classical Circus of St. Petersburg (established 1827) - The Chinizelli circus 2022
Complete schedule of all St. Petersburg theatres 2022
Show "A ball at Chinizelli or 1001 Cinderellas" at Circus on Fontanka |
| |
|
|
About This Video 02:27 State Classical Circus on Fontanka, St.-Petersburg, Russia.
Premiere of this production: 18 December 2015 |
|