Gergiev’s conductor speaks up

Gergiev’s conductor speaks up

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norman lebrecht

May 17, 2016

Vladimir Putin took the stage at a Mariinsky concert, extolling the current Easter Festival and its director, Valery Gergiev.

He went on to thank orchestra members who played in Russian-held Palmyra. 

This event , said Putin, ’caused an unprecedented emotional response around the world, it has become a symbol of hope, the victory of civilization over barbarism, culture and creation over chaos and destruction. … There, around Palmyra, fighting is still going on.’

putin-gergiev podium

Photo: Alexei Druzhinin

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