Feodor Chaliapin House Museum
Acclaimed by Arturo Toscanini as the greatest talent with whom he ever worked, Feodor Chaliapin was a self-taught singer of peasant origin who took first Russia and then the whole operatic world by storm with his powerful voice, technical brilliance, and raw charisma.
Although Chaliapin left the Soviet Union for good in 1922, he never officially argued with the Bolshevik government, and this apartment on Aptekarsky Island, his home in St. Petersburg since 1914, was preserved along with its contents by his secretary. The Chaliapin House Museum was officially opened to the public in 1975, and underwent a total refit in the 1990s.
As well as the recreated rooms containing the singer's personal effects and a reconstruction of his dressing room at the Mariinsky Theatre, the museum charts Chaliapin's life and career through a display of photographs, letters, costumes, set designs, and posters from the productions which he starred in. There are also several portraits of the singer, including a famous canvas by Boris Kustodiyev which depicts Chaliapin against a colourful winter backdrop with scenes that record his rapid rise to fame.
| Location: | 26, Ulitsa Graftio |
|---|---|
| Metro: | Petrogradskaya |
| Telephone: | +7 (812) 234-1056 |
| Open: | Wednesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 6 pm |
| Closed: | Mondays, Tuesdays, and the last Friday of each month |
| Website: | http://theatremuseum.ru/filial/dom_muzey_shalyapina |
| Admission: | Adults: RUB 100.00 |
| Photo and video: | Photo: RUB 100.00 Video: RUB 200.00 |
| Accessibility note: | Not suitable for wheelchair-bound and motion-impaired visitors (no elevator/lift) |
