Saint Petersburg - Moscow

Join an extraordinary musical and artistic journey that begins at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg to finish in Moscow philharmonic halls. 

This marathon of classical music will allow you to attend every night unprecedented concerts from the best Russian musicians, such as Gergiev, Temirkanov, Virsaladze or Pletnev, as well as visiting the hotspots of Russian classical artistic culture, like the Tretyakov Gallery or the Bolshoi Theater.

ARRIVAL : If you arrive the same day by plane, send us your schedule and arrival reference. We will welcome you at the airport for transfer to the hotel (around 30 mn ride).

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16:00 Meeting with the group

Meeting at 4 p.m. in the lobby of the ANASTASIA HOTEL. We’ll then head to the bar next door for a quick welcome orientation, and to get to know each other over a round of drinks before a first walk in the city.

The three churches

During this Saint Petersburg cultural city tour, our guide will take you to the three main churches of the city: Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, which marks the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded in an assassination attempt on March 1, 1881.

Concert 1: Wagner Opera at the Mariinsky Theatre

In the evening you will attend 5 hours of Wagner Opera in the Mariinsky-II Theatre, conducted by Valery Gergiev.

The Winter Palace

Early departure from the hotel. During this Saint Petersburg cultural city tour, Our guide will take you to the Hermitage Square (ext) for a guided visit of the Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum) and the General Staff Building.

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Concert 2: Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra

You will be taken to the Great Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmonia to attend a Leningrad Philharmonic concert conducted by its historic director Yuri Temirkanov with the very rare and unique Elisso Virsaladze as a soloist.

Program: Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto and then Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky / Ravel.

A morning under the sign of refinement

Early departure from the hotel. Today our guide will take you to the Fabergé Museum to discover the precious eponymous eggs. The tour continues with a visit to the Music Museum and ends with a visit to the fabulous Yusupov Palace.

Concert 3: Mlada de Rimsky-Korsakov.

Concert of Mariinsky Orchestra which will play the Mlada Opera of Rimski-Korsakov in the brand new Mariinski auditorium. 

You will visit the Tikhvin cemetery which houses the graves of some of the most essential Russian artists of all time, including all members of the group of composers called "The Big Five": Cesar Cui, Mily Balakiriev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Modest Mussorgsky and Alexander Borodin. Your walk will continue with the visit of St. Alexander Nevsky Monastery.

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Rimsky-Korsakov House

In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided tour of the Rimsky-Korsakov House Museum. Then you will have a few hours of free time / walk before the evening concert.

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Concert 4: Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov

In the evening you will be conducted to the St Petersburg Philharmonia to attend a concert of the Saint-Petersburg Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Alexander Titov with the Concertmaster of the orchestra as soloist in the first part.

Program: Tchaikovsky, then the 3rd symphony of Rachmaninov.

9:05 - train departure to Moscow.

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13:05 - arrival in Moscow, Leningradskiy train station.

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Moscow Sightseeing tour

Our guide will take you to the main spots around the Kremlin, including the Red Square, Alexander Gardens, Gum and Saint Basil's Cathedral. The afternoon will end on the roof of a hidden bar in the city with a splendid view on the city center. 

Concert 5: Boris Berezovsky & the State Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra

In the early evening we will take the metro to the Philharmonia-2 concert hall to attend a concert with the major Russian pianist and former Virsaladze student Boris Berezovsky, conducting from the piano the State Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra in two concertos.

Lenin's Mausoleum (optional)

Meet at the Red Square at 9:30 for a visit of the Lenin Mausoleum or rest / free time.

Tour in the district of Bolchoi

Our guide will take you to the Bolshoi Theater for a fascinating guided tour. It will then take you to the Sergei Prokofiev Museum and then to the House Museum of the famous Russian pianist Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter.

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Concert 6: Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

In the evening you will go to the Tchaïkovsky Conservatory for a concert of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Pavel Kogan.

Program: Brahms / Mahler

Tour of the interior of the Kremlin (optional)

For those who wish, we offer guided tours of the five Kremlin cathedrals (Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral of St. Michael Archangel, Cathedral of the Annunciation, Church of the Deposition-of-the-Robe-of-the-Virgin and Church of the Twelve Apostles), as well as the Armory Chamber and the Diamond Room.

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Walk in the park Zaryadye

While waiting for the evening concert, we offer you a pleasant stroll in the brand new Zaryadye Park on the banks of the Moskva River.

Concert 7: Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Concert of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, with Vadim Repin Soloist in a Glazunov violin concerto followed by one of the greatest of Russian pieces of music, Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade.

Program Glazunov / Rimsky Korsakov.

Novodevichy Monastery and Cemetery.

In the morning you will go to the main necropolis of Moscow and Russia: the Novodevichy Cemetery where several great Russian personalities - such as Chekhov and Gogol - are buried, including a large number of composers and musicians (Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Skriabin ...).

Then visit the Novodevichy Convent which surrounds the cemetery and which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004.

Great walk "Moscow, a European Cultural Capital"

The afternoon awaits you for a nice walk in Moscow that will take you to the magnificent Cathedral of Christ the Savior, then to the small streets of Red October on the island of Moscow, before crossing the bridge and arriving at the famous Tretyakov Gallery (guided tour included). The walk will end with a stroll in the Muzeon Park.

Concert 8: Russian National Orchestra

See you at the Russian National Orchestra for a concert conducted by RNO's founder, conductor and pianist Mikhail Pletnev with Nikolay Lugansky as soloist in Chopin's first piano concerto.

Program Chopin / Glazunov.

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Concert 9 : State Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra 

Your marathon concert of classical music concludes with a ninth and final night concert of the State Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra at the Tshaïkovsky Concert Hall.

​11:00 Farewell Brunch

The group will meet at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel. We’ll then head to one of our favorite café near the hotel for a final brunch all together. Following that, we will take care of transfers to the station or airport according to the departure times of each member of the group.

Time to go ... in music!

End of this incredible marathon of classical music. You will return to your respective countries, harmonics in your ears and a better understanding of the big names of Russian and Soviet classical music.

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Immersion in Russia will be delighted to meet you for new thematic trips or great railway adventures even more immersed in Russian culture.