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[littlekate]

On July 23 I happened to be at the gala concert of Tsarskoye Selo Divertimento International Festival. It was held in the Big Hall of the Catherine's Palace. Music was excellent - Misha Maisky, a world famous cellist was performing. How could I, a humble mortal, penetrate such an event held in such a place? My good friend and my kid's violin teacher in one person just called me asking to accompany her to that place (she had 2 free passes thanks to her musical connections). I must say, that she is about 80 and can not go that far without a companion.
The event suggested a new idea about entering Catherine's palace in a hot season (though, choosing a colder one is a better solution anyway).
At the Catherine's web-site I found the "Events time schedule" http://tzar.ru/info/eventcalendar
Somehow, they do not show it in the English version of the web-site. The idea is that you may come to some concert held in the palace instead of queuing to see a suit of rooms. This way you can not see the Amber room, but you can get some impression of the palace (2 rooms, to be exact) coming not as a tourist, but as a guest. By the way, a ticket to the concert implies free of charge entrance to the park. Tomorrow I promise to provide further information, which I hope to receive after calling to Catherine's office.

[littlekate]

So, according to the Catherine's ticket office, when a concert is organized by the palace office it will cost the same 500 RUR (17USD) as entrance to the palace for a foreign tourist. When a concert belongs to some festival, then the price may be twice more or higher. On another hand, a festival implies some world famous musicians. Is anyone brave enough to try the new way?