Putin gives Gergiev a medal, but few attend his birthday concert
NewsThe Kremlin has published this notice:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on awarding the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, 2nd class, artistic director, director of the State Academic Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev, the document was published on the legal information portal. On May 2, the conductor turned 70 years old.
The award was given to Gergiev for his great contribution to the development of national culture and art, and many years of fruitful activity.
However, tonight’s St. Petersburg Gala marking the 10th anniversary of Mariinsky II and his own 70th birthday remains barely half-sold, according to the Mariinsky website.
Well there is the nail in the coffin of Gergiev’s international career. He should have declined the medal.
Decline the medal? Why would he, well knowing how he benefits from his close association with that criminal lot? VG evidently sees no need for the West. The rest of the corrupt world (not that the West isn’t also) will continue rolling the red carpet his way. Same thing with Netrebko, pace her European gigs.
Speaking of conductors and the Russians. Muti was also the recipient of the prestigious Russia Order of Friendship. I think that Putin bestowed this honor on him, but I could not confirm such thing; some people say that Muti used to boast about the award on his bio page, I just don’t buy that. Why would Muti boast about an award conferred by the Russian criminal? Absurd. Nor could I find an article describing when Muti sent back the award … I am sure there are many. Muti must have sent back the bloody award right away!!
Why he did not decline it to begin with ….. that is a good question.
Long live honesty and integrity! And long live Riccardo and all the great Russian musicians!!
Half-sold because it is a public holiday in Russia and people have gone to their dachas??
I checked the Marinsky home page earlier today: Tonight’s concert was about 80% sold. I don’t know when his birthday concert is, but the concert on May 14th with not announced program is sold out.
But of course, SL is mostly about emotions these days.
Serge;
For a ”guy living in London” you seem to follow the Russian websites actively. Your Russian skills must be quite good ?
Dear Jean,
I usually don’t check the Marinsky homepage very often, but I did on this case, to check Mr. Lebrecht’s claim. It is also available in English. No Russian skills needed.
Well, Serge, I too checked the seat availability to that Gala on Mariinsky website – three hours before it was supposed to begin. I even made the screenshots of what they were still offering at that moment! Guess what – on the Main Floor alone (“Stalls”) there were 296(!) available seats at that time – including the whole rows (##19, 20 & 21), to which NONE of the tickets had been sold yet! Plus there were many areas on several other levels of that hall with – in each of them! – dozens and dozens of seats still available, those easily totaling at least 300+ more. So unless there was a last-minute fire sale of the unsold tickets I highly doubt your 80% number – since that hall’s stated full capacity is known to be 1,830.
I have no horse in this race, but 20% of 1,830 is 375, correct? According to my elementary school math books at least.
Look who took a break in his busy schedule (a break from bombing the Ukrainian cities, that is), dressed up for the occasion and came to Mariinsky to personally congratulate the birthday boy (who had also dressed up!). Says Vlad (among other things): “I on purpose won’t talk now about the today’s situation in the world, in the arts – quite the opposite, I wanna underscore that art should be outside politics – that is the most important thing, BUT having said that I can’t omit mentioning your patriotism toward Russia…”
Isn’t that precious? My handkerchief’s got all wet while I listened to Pootie-Poot congratulating his favorite conductor. Such a sweet, gentle, eloquent man, isn’t he?!:-(
PS: If Vlad also stayed for that gala at Mariinsky II – I wonder how many tickets were “sold” to his bodyguards? 50? 100? more??
https://www.5-tv.ru/news/430027/putin-licno-pozdravil-direktora-mariinskogo-teatra-gergieva-s70letiem/
No vatniks here screaming “Don’t mix music and politics!”? No? Just checking.
I met this guy many years ago. Well, 33 to be exact. And he was completely different person. Completely! So, this is a terrifying example of how lust of power and money is supplanting everything human and creative. Should be remembered.
Very true. I confirm your impression.
Yes, but 33 years ago, also Putin’s agenda was a very different one.
Now be in VG’s position, and any personal development short of completely abandoning everything you have in Russia, family, Marinskij, etc., will see you today where he is today.
Tragic in a way, but also understandable. Dependencies. Check mate, as far as western connections are concerned.
An empty concert hall is good for the acoustics.
Remember Muti’s pandemic New Year’s concert in locked-down Vienna?
No coughs, no clapping…great recording conditions!
Grim photo. Valery happily mixing it not only with Putin, but with the ridiculous Sergei Shogiu, Putin’s hunting and camping buddy – they love taking a tumble in the wild together – whose closest connection to the military before getting a uniform and a row of ribbons was a stint in the Young Pioneers.
To borrow from Roger Thornhill in North by Northwest, a picture only Charles Addams could draw.
I suppose Mr. Prigozhin vetoed a 1st class with Kalashnikovs
Second class! I’d be insulted!
For the sake of accuracy, why don’t you mention that this photo is not recent but from 2018?
You mean after the special military operations in Donbas, Crimea, Georgia, Moldova and Syria?