The House of the Nobility Assembly is the center of the life of a high society

The foundation, the state-forming basis of pre-revolutionary Russia, was the nobility - the highest, privileged class. The organ of self-government of this estate, which appeared in 1766, acquired legislative power in 1785 from the moment the "Granted certificate of the nobility" came into force.

Beautiful and durable

The nobility meeting was called still "noble", by the very name letting know that this is the organ of self-government of people with blue blood. Naturally, in order to hold meetings that took place once in three years, the situation was necessary. The decoration of society required a decent frame. Houses of the Nobility meeting in the capitals and major cities of the provinces were erected in the centers; For their construction the best masters from all countries were invited.

In demand and after the revolution

Constructed buildings for centuries, so many of them have survived to this day and are the main attractions of the central provincial cities. The houses of the Noble Assembly in such cities as Smolensk, Vologda, Vladimir, Ufa, Kostroma, Tver and others are adornments of these settlements and monuments of history and architecture of these regions. In them, and now there are cultural objects - where the Philharmonic (St. Petersburg, Smolensk), where the Academy of Arts (Ufa). For many years the House of Unions has been in the building of the Noble Assembly in Moscow (it was known precisely under this name).

Center for cultural and social life

It is not necessary to talk about the role played by the House of the Noble Assembly in the cultural and secular life of both capitals. The most famous celebrities performed on the stage of these houses, the most refined and brilliant balls were given here too. The Moscow building was built by the most famous and popular at that time domestic architect Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov, who rebuilt the entire central part of Moscow. New buildings, including the House of the Noble Assembly (in Moscow it was officially called the House of Noble Assembly), were erected in the style of early classicism known as "palladianism" (after the Italian architect Andrea Palladio).

Moscow House

One of the most beautiful buildings in Moscow, located in the Okhotny Ryad, was built by him no later than 1755. This is one of the answers to the question of what constitutes the House of the Nobility Assembly, by what time it refers. According to some documents, the first owner of the building, Prince VM Dolgorukov-Crimean, who died in 1754, built a building for himself. But after leaving the world, the Moscow Nobility Assembly buys a huge mansion for its own needs, namely, for holding secular parties in it. It was flocked during the great holidays all the nobility of Russia. It was here that the famous "fair of brides", which my aunts brought Tatiana Larin.

Famous at All Times

The column hall of this building, built next to the Kremlin, was known throughout the country in Soviet times, but in the brilliant age of Catherine, as in the days of Pushkin, the heart of Russia was literally beating in it. This was the Moscow House of the Noble Assembly. At what time does this building belong , it is difficult to say, because in its original appearance it existed until 1917, but then, as noted above, life did not cease for a moment. In this building several meetings of the world chess championship were held. The New Year tree in the column hall of the House of Unions, held since 1935, without exaggeration, was known throughout the vast country. It can be said that despite the radical change of power, since the time when the House of the Noble Assembly appeared, and to this day the most significant and important events are taking place. One of the last is a mourning event related to Yevgeny Primakov's funeral.

House of the Noble Assembly of the Northern Capital

Maybe because these houses were built for some important and joyful events, they were not affected by the sad fate of destruction and oblivion. This applies to the famous building in St. Petersburg, which now houses the world-famous Concert Hall of the Shostakovich Conservatory - one of the cultural centers of Russia. When the House of the Nobility meeting appeared in the northern capital and by whom was it built? The building, which is part of the ensemble of the Arts Square, was erected according to the design of KI Rossi. The building was built by the architect Paul Jacquot in 1834-1839. One of the main advantages of this building is the hall with amazing acoustics. It's no wonder that there is a philharmonic in it. Three floors originally numbered the St. Petersburg House of Noble Assembly.

The year 1901 entered the history of the building with the superstructure of the fourth attic floor, located above the crowning cornice. This reconstruction, which affected both the front staircase and the exterior of the building, was carried out by the architect A. P. Maksimov in the design of V. A. Schreter. In 1948-49 (after the war), the architect IG Kantsyug, who led the restoration work, restored the building to the drawings of KI Rossi.

Years of Soviet Power

When the House of the Noble Assembly in St. Petersburg was created, intended for secular parties, no one thought that the building would become famous throughout the world. The St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic, which opened on June 12, 1921, thundered not only the disgraceful trial of Metropolitan Veniamin and 86 Orthodox priests, but also the great performance of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony, which was heard here on August 9, 1942. This performance became a symbol of the invincibility of the besieged Leningrad. Yuri Temirkanov has been in charge of the orchestra for many years. Vladimir Putin called the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society a "namolennym place."