New Mariinsky Theater Draws Ire Before May Opening

Local architects are also unimpressed by the plain structure, which has become the most expensive theatre building in the world." (Final cost is projected at $730 million.) The new building for the Mariinsky Theater is being built to a design by Canada's Diamond Schmitt Architects near the historic Mariinsky building in central St. Petersburg. Their design is built upon the foundations for Dominique Perrault's 2003 competition-winning design for the theater; by 2006 the French architect's design failed to receive technical approvals, so the bid for the project started anew.

The same article describes, "Critics say the building looks more like a shopping mall than an opera theatre." Local architects are disappointed that the competition design was not realized, one architect saying, "That project could have been epic for St. Petersburg and Russian architecture as a whole." But if Mariinsky director Valery Gergiev's comments that his "first impressions are very good" in regards to the hall's acoustics, then public opinion will most likely sway once the facility is complete and the theater is used for concerts.