Just in: Putin sends Gergiev to Beijing

Chinese media are reporting that Russia’s prize conductor is being sent to give concerts in Beijng and Shanghai next week as part  of the friendship deal cemented between presidents Putin and Xi.

Valery Gergiev always responds when Putin says ‘jump!’

From the Beijing organ Global Times:

Following friendly China-Russia talks in Moscow, Russia’s veteran conductor Valery Gergiev is set to perform in ­Beijing from March 27 to 29, the ­National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) announced on Monday.

The news has excited so many ­classic music lovers as the conductor is ­well-received in China during his past visits, winning him the nickname “brother-in-law” as the pronunciation of his Chinese name is similar to jiefu, brother-in-law.

Gergiev’s upcoming performance is seen as signal that more international artists will be on China’s stages as the country resumed accepting requests of overseas artists ever since March 20. Meanwhile, many experts see it as an attempt at cultural exchanges between Russia and China resulting from closer bilateral ties.

Gergiev and the Russian Mariinsky Orchestra, which he has worked with for over 50 years, will stage music pieces ranging from Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No.1 in D major, Op. 25, Classical, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade on the first day to Claude Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture.