The Mikhailovsky Opera Company dates back to 1918 and is one of the finest opera companies in St Petersburg. The great Russian singers such as Fyodor Chaliapin, Sergey Lemeshev, Yury Marusin, Sergey Leiferkus, Evgenia Gorokhovskaya performed in the theatre. In 2007-2009, the renowned Russian singer Elena Obraztsova was Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Opera Company.