ITINERARY : IHC08: WHITE DAYS AT ST PETERSBURG
Winter was the fashionable season of Imperial St Petersurg. Splendid salons, balls and concerts are depicted in the many classics of Russian literature Leo Tolstoy described exactly the constant daily round of balls and receptions where Russian high society danced and romanced, and carriages and troikas rushed around the city, crushing the snow and ice beneath wheels and runners.
The White Days season is reviving these traditions. During winter time the best theatres, concert halls and the old imperial palaces welcome lovers of Russian art and culture. The city’s very best five-star hotels have joined together to host a plethora of entertainment and festivities from November through to the end of March.
Imperial Holidays presents a program of 6 days staying at one of: Angleterre Hotel; Hotel Astoria; Corinthian Nevsky Palace Hotel; Grand Hotel Europe; or Hotel Moika 22 Kempinski. Expect to experience society balls and masquerades, music and theatre festivals, exhibitions and premiers across the cultural spectrum of art, ballet, opera and symphony. Explore the museums during the day, the best performances imaginable during the evenings, and luxurious, elegant accommodation overnight during St Petersburg’s White Days season.
The State Hermitage Museum is known throughout the world, both for its buildings and its art collection. The hermitage actually consists of five linked buildings along the Palace Embankment: they are the Winter Palace, the Little Hermitage, the Old and New Hermitages and the Hermitage Theatre. The art collection is on all three floors of the Winter Palace and the main two floors of the Little and Large Hermitages. The collection is also housed in other buildings throughout the city: the Menshikov Palace, the General Staff Building and the Repository in “Staraya Derevnya”. During the White Days season the crowds are down and there is space and time to see the items you really want to see from the vast collection of 16,000 paintings, 600,000 drawings and prints and 12,000 sculptures.
The State Russian Museum is where you can see all of Russian culture and history in the pictures and sculptures from 400,000 works dating from the 11th century to the present. As you walk through the elegant halls you will experience the true mystery that is Russian culture. There is meditation and spirituality seen in the icons, but one also notices that there is laughter here, and sadness, and anger. The collection is housed in the former Mikhailovsky Palace, built for Grand Duke Mikhail in the early 19th century. The portraits of tsars, tsarinas and generations of St Petersburg courtiers are a means oto understand where that very Russian love of display comes from. Throughout the White Days season the Russian Museum mounts a number of special exhibitions. A highlight of the closing of the season is the ice-sculpture exhibition in the Summer Garden.
The Mariinsky Theatre since its opening in 1860 has been the centre of St Petersburg cultural and social life. Today the Mariinsky is the home of the Kirov Ballet, the Kirov Opera and the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre. Over the decades the theatre has had its share of stunning performances from Nijinsky in 1910 to Nureyev in the 1960s to Baryshnikov in the 1970s each creating major sensations in the world of ballet. In February during the White Days season, the Maestro presents at the Mariinsky Theatre the festival dedicated to a significant Russian cultural figure; one year it may be Tchaikovsky, the next Gogol. The Mariinsky Ballet Festival is held a little later and presents the Kirov Ballet’s famed principal dancers and many invited international stars. In 2010 the festival was held in April.
The St Petersburg Philarmonia is Russia’s most celebrated musical institution. As the oldest Philarmonia in Russia its history has included the world’s greatest musicians: Beethoven, List, Mahler, Berlioz, Wagner, Strauss, Tchaikovsky Mussorgsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov and in the 20th century, both Shostakovich and Prokofiev have premiers of their works performed in this hall with its excellent acoustics. Imbedded in the hearts of most Russians is August 09, 1942 during the 900 days Siege Leningrad, the Seventh Symphony of Shostakovich was performed by the orchestra of Leningrad’s radio. During the White Days season, every evening in the Large and Small Halls, The Philarmonia presents concerts for the lovers of all genre of classical music. The Philarmonia Winter Arts Festival in Arts Square takes place from December to January. There are performances not only in the Great Hall of the Philarmonia, but also in the Russian Museum located on the other side of the Square and in the legendary Stray Dog café (one of Russia’s famous literary cafes).
The Yusupov Palace is the most splendid “private home” from among the many palaces owned by the incredibly wealthy Yusupov family. The palace is famous for its exotic interiors such as the Moorish room, and its exquisite 165 seat private theatre; Franz List and Clara Schumann played here, and Anna Pavlova danced here. Felix Yusupov, the last owner before the Revolution, is best remembered as the man who murdered Rasputin in this building in December 1916. Today, during the White Days season, the Yusupov Palace again echoes to the sound of parties as people enjoy themselves in popular entertainments such as Masquerades; costume balls, a gala performance in the theatre, dancing in the Banqueting Hall or a candelit dinner.
The Christmas season is deservedly popular with visitors, both for the beauty of the city’s decorations and for the flurry that brings people together. There are of course numerous church services where the singing alone is inspiring and visitors are welcome to call in to listen. Orthodox Russian Christmas is actually celebrated on January 7th.
New Year’s Eve is celebrated across the city and the range from which to choose is enormous.
The major celebration of New Year’s Eve for visitors is the Tsar’s Imperial New Year’s Eve Ball held in the Catherine Palace (for details of this event Imperial Holidays offers TOUR IHC01). Other New Year’s Eve celebrations are organized in the form of glittering performances in opulent settings: the Yusupov Palace hosts a New Year Ball; the Mariinsky Theatre hosts an equally glamorous New Year’s Gala Performance.
After all the celebrations why not enjoy a brisk troika ride followed by a traditional Russian banya, similar to a sauna, but with an atmosphere and ritual that is unique to Russia.
Departures: Between November and end of March. Align your visit with the Entertainment and Festivities that you wish to experience. For example for New Year’s Eve select December 28; For the Philarmonia is best in December and January; Mariinsky Ballet Festival can be as late as April The great Museums, churches and palaces are open throughout the year and similarly opera, ballet and symphonies are available every day. But White Days season falls between November to March.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in St Petersburg; meet and transfer to your city centre hotel for 6 nights. Evening: A special welcome dinner and a Folkloric Show in the Nikolaevsky Palace Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Today a full day is set aside for you to visit The Hermitage. The day will begin with an introductory guided tour, followed by three hours when you can revisit your favourite exhibition or explore on your own. Your guide is available to help. After lunch (your own arrangements – there is a small café inside The Winter Palace), the afternoon is free time. You may decide to remain at the Hermitage and explore at your leisure or you may wish to return to your hotel and spend the afternoon on Nevsky Prospect. Evening: Classical performance – perhaps a ballet at the Marinsky Theatre? Meals: Breakfast, Late Supper after the performance (Dinner)
Day 3: For this morning there is a guided city tour to give an overview of the city’s major attractions. There are visits to two amazing Cathedrals: St Isaac’s cathedral, and the Church On Spilled Blood. You will also have time to visit church services to hear the beautiful choirs.
A late lunch is included at a local restaurant (The Lucky Shot or similar) with a special Russian atmosphere. The afternoon is at your leisure. Evening: Classical performance – perhaps a symphony tonight at the St Petersburg Philarmonia? Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Your program for today includes two visits within the city. The morning will take you on a visit to the Russian Museum for a guided tour. After a break for lunch (your own arrangements) we have arranged a visit to the fabulous Yusupov Palace with its magnificent Art collection. And yes you do get to see the “crime scene” where Rasputin was murdered. Evening: The suggestion for tonight’s entertainment is a classical dinner at the Noble’s Nest or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: A visit to Tsareskoe Selo (Tsar’s Village) now called Pushkin is today’s special program. Here you will explore a palace of remarkable splendour and elegance. The Catherine Palace has its own Hall of Mirrors which many say outshines Versailles. A highlight here is the extraordinary amber room. Lunch today is at the Podvorie, a Russian wooden structure with local foods and entertainment. After today’s lunch there will be an early afternoon return to the city and your hotel. Evening: Classical performance – perhaps tonight’s choice is an opera performance, or a gala performance in the Yusupov Theatre. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Today is the last full day in St Petersburg and its White Days season. After a late start to the day you will visit the Peter & Paul Fortress, the burial place of all, but one, of the Russian Tsars including the recent burial site of Nicholas & Alexandra. We will celebrate a farewell lunch at a local gipsy restaurant before spending the afternoon at leisure. Evening: Classical performance – another and different ballet, opera, concert or symphony? Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the Pulkovo Airport for your flight and onward journey.
Note: The nature of each Classical Performance will be determined as programs and tickets become available – usually about one month before the actual performance.
Prices: From $6,010.00 per person, twin share; and from $7,720.00 single
Features of this Holiday
* Six nights five-star hotel accommodation
* Daily breakfasts; 3 Dinners: 3 lunches as per schedule
* Private transport with driver and guide daily
* Private transfer to and from evening performances
* First class tickets to 4 Classical Performances and the evening Folkloric Show
* Transfers from and to Pulkovo Airport
* Entrance tickets to all Museums and Palaces
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