The title of oldest Russian national theater is one that the legendary Alexandrinsky Theater can boast, established on August 30 1756, the day of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Originally named after Alexandra Fyodorovna, wife of Tsar Nicholas I, the imposing structure was designed by the popular Italian architect, Carlo Rossi, who worked for most of his life in Russia, his legacy also including the bright white Yelagin Palace and Mikhailovsky Theater. The theater's performance history practically runs as an A to Z of the nation's great actors and directors, and premieres of great works from the likes of Aleksander Griboyedov, Aleksander Ostrovsky, and Anton Chekhov have all taken place there.
