Musical Tourism in Saint Petersburg

In the modern world tourism plays a really great role in all spheres of our life. It’s closely connected with travelling, education, business and entertainment. The main subject of my presentation is musical tourism for the last few years becoming more and more popular among people of different ages and social groups. St Petersburg is a really perfect place for getting strong emotions and unforgettable impressions in the music field. Here everyone can find something interesting and exciting according to his taste and preferring.

Music follows us through our whole life: the first melody we hear from our mothers, when she sings lullabies, then we get older and begin to listen to our favorite music, go to different gigs and concerts with friends, take trips to other countries to visit international music festivals.

Saint-Petersburg is famous not only for its architecture, bridges and palaces, but also for its talented people like musicians, artists, poets, actors, etc.

Summer is the perfect time to take a trip to Saint-Petersburg, because there are white nights, it`s warm and sunny and this is the best time for holding the biggest international music festival in the city – the STEREOLETO. This is a huge place for entertainment. You can play active games, eat tasty food, win different prizes and of course listen to your favorite musicians. This festival has been held since 2001 and every year thousands of people go there to have fun under the sun. For 17 years a lot of world-famous musicians like Massive Attack, Air, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Michael Boyarsky, Crystle Castles, Ivan Dorn have given concerts there. Also, there are a lot of unknown artists, who became famous after the STEREOLETO.

This festival has never limited itself with genres: the main criteria of the selection are not a commercial success and immediate fame, but the personality and talent of a particular musician and his cultural significance.

In addition, this festival cooperates with the consulates, institutes and cultural centers in more than 50 countries! In 2018 thanks to this support a lot of great participants from Estonia, Hungary, Finland, Israel and other countries will come to the STEREOLETO.

The festival usually lasts for 2 days, Saturday and Sunday. Prices are average, from 1500 to 5000 rubles, so that`s why everyone can buy a ticket and have a good time.

As I’ve told, Saint-Petersburg is famous for its talented musicians. You don`t need to wait for a concert or festival to see a live performance of your favorite musician or band because in Petersburg it`s enough just to go down the Nevsky Prospect or go to the Palace Square to listen to them! Solo musicians or even bands play Russian and foreign songs on the Palace Square, the Griboedov Channel, near the Church of the Savior-on-Spilled-Blood and in other crowded places. There you can hear acoustic versions, rock and jazz covers, and even classical performances of your favorite songs. While musicians are playing a lot of citizens and foreigners are passing them and stop to listen, so that`s why they play the most popular songs of all times. For example, songs by SPLIN or Leningrad, Viktor Tsoi or Zemfira, Coldplay or Sam Smith, Elvis or Radiohead and others. And if you like the performance you can put some money or a pack of cigarettes in the hat or an empty guitar case!

But if you’re tired of crowds or walking and just want to relax and have some hot drinks and still want to listen to the music you can visit one of the popular Saint-Petersburg flat-concerts called 'Kvartirnik'. The word `kvartirnik` comes from Russian word which names our flats. Everyone can come there to listen to the music, to talk to musicians or other people, to sing along and all in all just to chill. Music performances like this one were extremely popular in Soviet times, but now they`re no less interesting. The entrance is usually free but sometimes you should pay some money just to encourage the participants. Musicians always sing their own songs and sometimes covers. The most popular genres to play there are jazz, blues or folk. All in all sitting there in a cozy flat you can imagine yourself sitting near a campfire with others and singing your favorite songs.

To sum everything up, when you live in a city where 200 days of 365 are grey and foggy you need bright colors in your life and music can really give them! So, visit different gigs and festivals, don’t pass by street musicians and come to Saint-Petersburg the other 165 sunny days!