The Mariinsky Theatre was founded as an opera and ballet theatre in 1860. From the moment it opened, the theatre became one of the leading musical stages of Russia in the late 19th century, where many works by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov were first presented to the public. In 1859, the Circus Theatre located opposite the Bolshoi Theatre burned down. In its place, the architect Alberto Cavos built a new theatre, which was named the Mariinsky in honour of the wife of Alexander II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The first theatre season in the new building opened on 2 October 1860 with Glinka's A Life for the Tsar. In 1886, the old theatre building was rebuilt as a conservatory, and the repertoire was completely transferred to the Mariinsky Theatre stage.

The name of Empress Maria Alexandrovna was immortalised not only in the name of the theatre, but also in its emblem, which is considered to be the curtain by A. Golovin. This main theatrical attribute is made in the form of the train of the Empress's dress.