Just in: Gergiev is grounded by a leg injury

Just in: Gergiev is grounded by a leg injury

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norman lebrecht

February 28, 2021

The Mariinsky has cancelled performances in Irkutsk this weekend after its leader Valery Gergiev suffered an unspecified injury.

Gergiev’s pal, the pianist Denis Matsuev, writes on his social media:

Unfortunately, the last two concerts of our festival will be held without Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra. Maestro called me today and told me he has a leg injury that caused doctors to categorically forbid him to take a flight. …

Valery Abisalovich was really waiting for this trip: we carefully prepared it, enthusiastically discussed the concert program. He had not been to Irkutsk for so many years and was determined to plunge into the waters after the banya… the main thing is that everyone is alive and well. I will allow Irkutsk residents to say that we wish the maestro a speedy recovery and always look forward to our dear Valery Abisalovich in our hospitable city. Keep your fingers crossed, maestro!


Our medical correspondent writes: A leg injury that prevents a person from flying sounds like deep-vein thrombosis. If that is what the injury is, it could keep Gergiev grounded until medication takes effect. Gergiev is 67 years old and vulnerable to a stroke.

 

Comments

  • Jay says:

    Putin’s pet conductor and pianist…

    • Novagerio says:

      Jay, so? Were Stalin’s pet composers – conductors – pianists – violinists and all snitches in between (the Oistrachs and Kogans) any better? Or is your poblem (like the entire Left-world’s problem seems to be) that Putin is not a communist?…
      Incidently, are you born in the 90s?…

    • Frankster says:

      When I saw that Gergiev was on the list of Russia’s richest, it was clear that even his many fees would not get him there. His support was obviously generously rewarded by the oligarchy.

  • BruceB says:

    If a patient in the hospital has a DVT, they are normally pgiven an IV heparin (blood-thinner) drip and put on bed rest for 24 hours. I think they’re allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, but that’s all — nothing that would encourage part of the clot to break free and travel to the brain/ heart/ lungs.

    Once it’s resolved, i.e. dissolved, they can usually go about their business pretty much as normal. They may have to take blood thinners for awhile or, more rarely, for life, the way some people take blood pressure medication.

    It’s not really considered an “injury” though. Vagaries of translation perhaps.

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    He’s probably fallen down the stairs or tripped over the cat and broken something.

  • Anonymous says:

    At least he is clean now after swimming in the sea! His approach to hygiene was/is sorely lacking. But of course nobody ever mentions that fact! Best kept secret amongst orchestral musicians.

  • EU person says:

    He just slipped on the street and injured his leg. There is too much ice in St. Petersburg now.

    • Maria says:

      Wouldn’t stop him flying. More likely thrombosis.

      • BruceB says:

        If he slipped on the ice and injured his leg badly enough to need a doctor, he could have a hematoma (or haematoma, depending on where you are when you spell it), which would put him at risk for thrombosis; hence, plane travel might be a bad idea.

  • John Borstlap says:

    Maybe he tried-out how to conduct a complex new Russian piece, which needed more than two arms to get the polyrhythms right.

  • IP says:

    He has this unique Parkinsonian conducting style.

  • Omar Goddknowe says:

    Isn’t that what the assistant conductor is for so that performances don’t have to be cancelled?

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