Mariinsky theatre in Russie divides opinion The new Mariinsky theater scene, a controversial new ballet and opera house in St. Petersburg and one of the biggest cultural projects in post-Soviet Russian history still divides people's opinion in over two months after its opening. The building, situated behind the historic Mariinsky Theater, completed by Canadian firm Diamond and Schmitt Associates for a total of 21.6 billion rubles ($700 million), had come under criticism from some prominent cultural figures like Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky and filmmaker Alexander Sokurov. Images and soundbites.