What is the White Nights Festival?
Q: What is the White Nights Festival?
A: The White Nights Festival is an international cultural festival held every year in St. Petersburg, Russia. It features classical ballet, opera and music events with performances by famous Russian dancers, singers, musicians and actors as well as international guest stars.
Q: When does the festival take place?
A: The festival begins in May with the "Stars of the White Nights" at Mariinsky Theatre and ends in July. However there are some performances that take place before and after these official dates.
Q: What is the Scarlet Sails celebration?
A: The Scarlet Sails celebration is the big climax of the White Nights season and it's said to be the largest public event anywhere in Russia. About a million people visit this part of the festival each year.
Q: Why is it called 'White Nights'?
A: The middle of summer in St Petersburg is known as 'White Nights' because due to its location so far north, during this time of year there isn't complete darkness during night-time hours.
Q: Who founded the Stars of the White Nights series?
A: The Stars of the White Nights series was originally started by Anatoly Sobchak who was first mayor of St Petersburg back in 1993.
Q: What kind of stars have performed at this festival?
A: Some notable performers include Plácido Domingo, Olga Borodina, Alfred Brendel, Anna Netrebko, Carlo Maria Giulini, Yuri Temirkanov, Gidon Kremer, Esa-Pekka Salonen Alexander Toradze Deborah Voigt James Conlon and many other classical performers from around world .
Q: What type of entertainment takes place on Palace Square during this festival?
A: Palace Square becomes a stage for international stars performing popular music each summer during this festival - recent performers have included Paul McCartney , Rolling Stones , Scorpions etc .
