Imperial Theatres

Imperial Theatres of Russian Empire (Russian: Императорские театры Российской империи) was a theatrical organization financed by the Imperial exchequer and managed by a single directorate headed with a courtier^[] director; was pertain to the Ministry of the Imperial Court from 1742.

The system operated in Russian Empire before the October revolution alongside with numerous private particular and public theatres. It has integrated opera, ballet and drama companies in Saint Petersburg (the capital of the country at that time) and Moscow, two theatrical schools for raising of artistes and numerous buildings and opera houses in these cities.

In 1803 the system included Italian Opera of impresario Antonio Casassi and its Maly Theatre building (1801, replaced by Alexandrinsky Theatre in 1832).

In 1806 by a decree of Emperor Alexander I was established a division of Imperial Theatres in Moscow.

In 1809 under the Direction of Imperial Theatres there were seven different theatre companies (ballet, 2 of a Russian theatre, 3 of a French theatre and 1 of a German drama theatre) and at least 10 theatre buildings in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and its surroundings.

In 1905 there were six public Imperial Theatres in Russia (Alexandrinsky, Mariinsky, Mikhailovsky and Maly in Saint Petersburg, Maly and Bolshoi in Moscow) plus court Hermitage Theatre and Krasnoselsky Theatre^[] used during the summer.

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