Gergiev consolidates control over Russian regions

Gergiev consolidates control over Russian regions

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

December 27, 2023

At a meeting at the Ministry of Culture on December 25, it was agreed to make Valery Gergiev chair of a ‘coordination council’ that will preside over Russia’s largest cultural institutions.

Gergiev, 70, is head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, as well as two other theatres.

Gergiev said: ‘Tours around the country and in general the life of regional groups, we are not just interested in it out of curiosity, we are already largely responsible for what is happening, for example, in distant Primorye, the Mariinsky Theater has a branch there for a long time, there are strong troupes working there, This makes us happy, and they have grown over the years also because they constantly perform in St. Petersburg, and have already performed in Moscow.

‘Another branch in Vladikavkaz, the same thing, is now ahead of the Mariinsky and now the Bolshoi Theater is opening a branch in Kaliningrad.’

pictured: Gergiev with puppet minister of culture Lyubimova

Comments

  • WU says:

    So – Vladikavkaz & Primorye & Kaliningrad are Vienna & Paris & New York for him now – funnier things happen^^ From the international classical jet set to a self-prescribed regionalism playing the tune “oh how great are Russian regions” – oh dear oh dear!

    • Ex-conductor says:

      It depends on priorities and more important- on mentality. You consider New York be better than Kaliningrad. Seeing poverty and all other stuff in US – very questionable your phrase is. He remains the greatest, but not in the right time unfortunately

      • Brettermeier says:

        You misspelled “Königsberg”. They’ll be better off once they’ve joined Lithuania and/or Poland.

    • Onairnow. says:

      And do you have anything against Russian regions ? Have you been there ? And who are you to insult them ?

  • Dixie says:

    That poor woman looks scared to death … I would be too if Gergiev were looking daggers at me!

  • TT says:

    You are right. But at least those regions will get a glimpse of art, they would never enjoy.

    • Onairnow. says:

      Why are you writing lies , and assuming that those regions don’t have any art? , you do realize that you are presenting yourself as someone uneducated and uncultured , rather than those regions you tried to portray and say something false about .

  • John Nelson says:

    On 24 March 1882 Tsar Alexander III abolished the Imperial Theatre monopoly. With Gergiev’s recent appointment as ‘chair of a ‘coordination council’ that will preside over Russia’s largest cultural institutions’ it appears that the State monopoly has been re-established!!!!

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