Thursday, August 3

Mystery Train on the big screen

If you’ve missed the last Jim Jarmusch retrospective at Avrora, now is your chance to fill in this gap. On Thursday, you’ll be able to piece together the three-part narrative of Mystery Train (1989), which has polarized reviews on IMDb. Would you call it a masterpiece or a “pretentious story not worth your time”? Decide for yourself! You can get your ticket here.

Friday, August 4

Exhibition: Dmitry Zhukov. Root Folder

  • Until September 17, 10 am - 10 pm daily, except for Tuesdays
  • Erarta
  • 600-1,000 rubles (includes an annual pass)

As you know, a root folder is the first directory on any digital device; it is typically hidden from users. Hence, the name of the exhibition, containing both completed works and drafts from the artist, which usually remain obscured from the public. However, the center stage will be given to Dmitry Zhukov’s multilayered sculpture, an exploration of the digital realm, where biology coexists with machinery. An easter egg for those who have already been to Erarta: Dmitry Zhukov authored the metal artwork that greets visitors at the museum’s main entrance.

Saturday, August 5

T-Shirt Festival

A dream come true for all the creative types – at this festival, you will get to pick a unique locally designed T-shirt or personalize yours with a custom print. The event will offer workshops on decorating T-shirts, as well as photo areas to immediately share your creation with the world. Fun giveaways are also promised, combined with the must-try foods presented by the local vendors. 

On your way to getting your best T-shirt, you can drop by the city center to witness the Fontanka SUP Festival unfolding on the canals and rivers: international participants will be dressed in colorful costumes, spreading a celebratory mood all through midtown as they surf down the stream.

Sunday, August 6

Concert: Stars of St. Petersburg Opera Theater

With many of the city’s theaters and concert halls vacationing in between the seasons, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy the greatest opera hits this August. Given the relatively democratic price range, it might also be your gentle introduction to the world of opera: get your taste at this potpourri concert – and if you enjoy the show, you will know what to look (and save up) for once the main opera stages open once more come September. Get your ticket here.

Monday, August 7

Exhibition: No Reason to Despair by Comicada

  • Until August 23, 11 am - 10 pm daily
  • ArtMuza
  • Free

An abundance of color and whimsy – that’s what you’ll find on display at one of ArtMuza’s exhibition spaces. Comicada (aka Anastasia Ivanova) is an artist known for her childlike, full-lipped characters who find themselves in awkward everyday situations – but never lose their optimism. They say Mondays are never fun days, but with this exhibition, no foul mood would stand a chance!

Tuesday, August 8

TheatreHD: Nijinsky – A Ballet by John Neumeier

We’ve had your introduction to opera earlier – now it’s time for ballet! Vaslav Nijinsky is widely regarded as one of the best male dancers of the early 20th century, even though he spent only 10 full years performing on stage – most notably for the famous Ballets Russes. Praised for his mastery, he spent the last 30 years of his life in asylums due to his deteriorating mental health. In this ballet, Hamburg-based choreographer John Neumeier looks at Nijinsky’s life and startling career by contemplating the characters he’d portrayed in some of the most wide-known ballets. One could view it as a cross-section of the art of ballet, as well as a peek into the life of one of the greatest performers of all time. You can get your tickets to the screening here.

Wednesday, August 9

Exhibition: Inspired by the Classics. Neoclassicism in Russia

Having dipped into the ballet of the early 20th century, you might enjoy turning to the visual art of the same period, as well. For many of us, the first art movement that comes to mind when we think of this time is the revolutionary avant-garde – but alongside it, a group of artists was also hoping to bring back classicism, reinventing the traditions of the Renaissance. Apart from a great display of masterpieces, the exhibition offers some food for thought: is there really nothing new under the sun? If so, when should we expect the next Renaissance?