Star concerts: Ice Palace and Oktyabrskiy Big Concert Hall
It is pretty hard to imagine that a city as big as Petersburg, lacks in professional concert venues for 1000, if not 2000 audience members. World famous heavy hitters like Madonna, Maroon 5, and Justin Timberlake mostly perform in the Ice Palace (Prosp. Pyatiletok, 1). BKZ Oktyabrskiy (Ligovskiy pr., 6), on the other hand, gets more love from local pop stars like Vera Brezhneva and Nyusha. Still, this venue sees interesting performances from foreign singers as well. Not too long ago, Emir Kusturitsa and Horan Bregovich danced their way across the stage accompanied by authentic gypsy motives.
Open air: “Etagi” loft project’s rooftop
This venue is only open in summer (and September) and has a very pleasant “only for the selected few” atmosphere. You won’t find any world class stars here, just the local, but very colourful, folk. Which only adds to its charm. Listening to great music on a rooftop on a warm summer evening, while you watch the orange sun go beyond the horizon and everything gradually fade into darkness (unless it’s the time of white nights, of course). That’s an indescribable feeling. It’s extra awesome to lay on a chaise-longue, watching the sky. Just fantastic!
Techno: Hi-hat, Mosaique, Stackenschneider
These are the places where they play techno and progressive house – the branches of electronic music, popular not only in Petersburg, but also everywhere else. We have three very popular venues. The first one is dance roof Hi-hat (Aptekarskiy pr. 4), where they hold parties “rooftop” style, and where all of the city party animals go. There are also two neighbour clubs – Mosaique and Stackenschneider (both at Konyushennaya sq. 2) – main hubs for lovers of techno: dark places with mysterious neon lighting and no windows. I thing everyone knows of underground Petersburg. And I don’t mean the rusty Russian rock (I think it died with Tsoy), I mean the most fashionable and fresh venues with “non-pop" music.
Jazz: The Hat bar, Jazz Philharmonic
The Hat (Belinski st. 9) is the bar of Billi Novik, the lead singer of Billi’s Band. He works there every day and, seemingly, performs there every day, too. Just a bunch of jazzy guys – everything’s cozy, friendly, informal and very atmospheric. A tiny bar with non-standard alcohol, not just beer and cognac. If you want to try an unusual tincture or a complex cocktail, the barman will happily recommend something. That will ideally complete your evening with pleasant music and pleasant company.
Philharmonic of Jazz Music (Zagorodniy pr. 27) – is a totally unique place. You need to get here ASAP! Believe me, after just one concert, you’ll love jazz forever. The luxurious atmosphere of a classical hall, amazing acoustics, and only the best performers.
Classical: Saint Petersburg Philharmonic
This is one of the most famous music halls not only in Petersburg, but in all of Russia. Moscow has the Moscow Conservatory and Sainte Petersburg has the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic (Mikhailovskaya ul., 2). The legendary Bolshoi Hall saw performances of such masters like Liszt, Wagner and Rostropovich. It’s surprising that even a venue as sophisticated and conservative as this one, hosts free concerts of different composers every year. It's great that people who don't want to spend a lot of money on tickets can still witness the beauty of art. Especially since most Russians and beyond feel that Saint Petersburg isn’t just a second capital, but the heart of our country’s culture.
Jam session: “Golitsyn Loft”
The team BS Art Development Group, who opened Golitsyn Loft (Fontanka river embankment, 20), changed a lot of places: they were in Passage on Nevskiy, then on Konyushennaya, and are now near the Inzhenerniy palace – that’s where the café with the piano is, too. Often, enthusiasts gather here and hold spontaneous concerts: chaotic, expressive creations. People who just love music and want to make their friends happier from it. It’s easy to come to drink a cup of coffee, but instead find yourself at an awesome jam session. Youthful force, ambitiousness and enthusiasm are in charge here and it’s easy to be inspired by them.
I think that Petersburg was always multi-faceted - open to everything new - and it’s hard to find yourself in a single endeavour. You try musical styles like they’re different candies. First you like one, and then you like another. I want more places, where talented people make friends and do something new together for themselves, not for money. And, undoubtedly, one of those projects are open repetitions on the stage of the new Alexandrinsky Theatre. They’re held by completely different people. And such events have an incredible living atmosphere; artists can freely interact with one another and even the audience. That’s a completely different format, different impressions. And, in my opinion, something we should have a lot more of.
