How low can Gergiev go?
NewsPutin’s pet conductor turned up yesterday at the Kremlin to pick up yet another medal.
Abasing himself before the invader of Ukraine, he said: Наша сила в том, что у нас хватает и мужества, и ума играть музыку Чайковского, Глинки и одновременно играть Моцарта, Верди. И мы это всегда будем делать. Я думаю, это есть один из залогов наших общих успехов с уважением к мировой культуре, но с акцентом на достижение великих русских».
Translation: “Our strength lies in the fact that we have both the courage and intelligence to play the music of Tchaikovsky, Glinka and at the same time play Mozart and Verdi. And we will always do this. I think this is one of the keys to our common success with respect for world culture, but with an emphasis on the achievements of great Russians.”
In another life, Tchaikovsky and Glinka just puked.
What happens when there are peace talks but nobody shows up? A few difficult years, but maybe something better comes out of it? Or will it be worse than that? I see plenty of idiots around, but also people pretending to be idiots to keep their jobs, or their friends. Maybe Trump will save the day. Maybe Farage will help you pick up the pieces Labour leaves you. Or maybe not.
To be honest, your comment is so full of non-sequiturs it’s unintelligible. But on one point you’re correct, Farage does indeed pretend to be an idiot. He’s never been a serious politician nor will he ever be. Farage, like Trump, like Johnson, cares about one person and one person only. He’s not serious enough for the sustained governance required of a head of state and consequently will never be a head of state.
What a disappointment this man is.
He is not yet prostrated flat on the floor, so there’s a way for him to go yet.
It’s hardly Gergiev’s fault that Putin is short.
Although if he bent any lower, Gergiev might as well suck his … stomach in (what, what did you think I was going to say?)
A greater slander of Russian art and artists is not possible.
Mhh have you “composed” anything russian yet?
That would do it.
Spoken by a dude who is ethnically Ossetian, not Russian….
He was born in Moscow. Is Rishi Sunak more Pakistani than British?
There are no Ossetian roubles yet. And, apart from a particularly bad personal hygiene, where is the difference?
Is this a weird reincarnation of the old “smelly Jews” stereotype? Or did you manage to sniff Gergiev’s underpit?
No need to go that close. Anyone in the orchestra can smell him approaching, eyes closed. But I do apologise to Ossetians in general for the clumsy writing.
The Mariinsky website has the following.
We have all marvel Valery Gergiev at his truly inspirational music-making, which, alongside his totally unbelievable energy, passion for music, and great qualities of friendship and idealism, have forged him a unique place in the world of music.
The Guardian (2005)
It seems to me unlikely that the Guardian is quite that illiterate. Or so fawning.
Or maybe there is a newspaper in Moscow or St. P that has the name Guardian when translated. What a very sinister thought.
and also this “has turned the Mariinsky Theatre with its centuries-old traditions into the world’s most dynamic opera and ballet company, nurturing an endless stream of brilliant singers and dancers. The maestro fully deserves his rating by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world today.
The Times (2010)”
“Influential” is not necessarily a positive adjective. Hitler was influential. Kim Jong Un is influential. You get the picture. (Also, your reference is from 14 years ago.)
It’s easy to find similar pieces on Gergiev in The Guardian:
“Gergiev’s artistic generosity allowed each symphony to make its own case. He was thrillingly assisted in this by his Russian orchestra, with its big, bold and idiomatic sound. The Tenth Symphony, in particular, benefitted from this rawness. The musicians had only had a day’s rest from their back-to-back Cardiff Ring Cycle, where the playing was said to be uneven, but with Shostakovich they were on home ground. You will wait a long time to hear these pieces played with greater excitement or commitment.”
(Martin Kettle, 12 Dec 2006)
“The orchestra played the final adagio with shocking, mesmerising power, making every phrase an expression of desolation….Gergiev and the orchestra were again outstanding in a selection from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker that ended with the Grand Pas from act two, in which the obsessive repetitions of a simple melody became hauntingly powerful.
(Tom Service, 10 Nov 2004)
Etc.
Come on, guys, don’t be so harsh toward good old VG: the man clearly understands that getting into the “Classical Music Hall of Shame” is a process – you can’t just get there in one leap and hope to stay there, you have to work hard on cementing your place in it for the posterity! And besides – what could be the greater honor for a true champion of Russian music than to accept yet another medal from the man, who within the same week did and said this (links below)?!
PS: I have a great idea for the VG’s NEXT award ceremony in Kremlin! He can bring one of his conductor’s podiums with him for Putin to step onto – to make the whole process of Vlad’s reaching for Valery’s neck somewhat easier and less awkward for both…:-(
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13460991/Deadly-aftermath-Putins-vile-attack-Kharkiv-hardware-store-emergency-teams-search-16-shoppers-missing-death-toll-rises-12-far.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13468271/Putin-threatens-Wests-densely-populated-territories-grave-consequences-allowing-weapons-sent-Ukraine-used-strikes-against-Russia-latest-veiled-nuke-threat-Kremlin.html
“Vlad reaching for Valery’s neck” is the point: Valery must not anger a man who does reach for other peoples necks.
I read this as a hidden message against cancel culture with music being the key language that brings peace and not war.
Figure caption:
“Thank you Vlad for this piece of metal but it won’t stop me from performing Mozart and Verdi, like my colleagues in the west will continue to conduct Tchaikowsky and Glinka…and Prokofiev…and Shostakovich…and Glazunov (could be done more)…and Scriabin…and Rachmaninov…and Rimsky-Korsakov…and Borodin. Your war won’t change this. So just end it, and chill, Vlad, chill!”
Putin has shown not even a hint of desire to cancel western culture. Gergiev is in fact parroting a line given by Putin a few months ago, when he proudly pointed out that “while Western audiences are now deprived of Russian music, we will not deprive our audiences of the beauty of Mozart.”
Here’s the whole cringe-worthy video: “Literally – a couple of words”, said VG – before getting into a 4-minute-long laundry list describing his herculean efforts to combine the forces of the two “truly great Russian theaters”, which he currently is Director of, to better serve the regions of Russia. “Both teams [of Bolshoi and Mariinsky] are hugely grateful to you!”, conveys he to his Master. The word salad continues: we’re also planning to do this and that, to commemorate that and this, and (of course!) we’re counting on your support.
Decoding Putin’s facial expression and the eyes roll at 1:40: “Oh, no! He’s gonna ask me for more $$$ for his pet projects again! Listen, Valery, I just gave you another medal – and I need those $$$ to bomb Kharkiv and Kyiv again tonight! And, by the way: is this endless speech, dropping the names of all the Russian towns and of all the composers you can remember, – is this your idea of “a couple of words”?! I’m busy, I have the brainstorm session with my generals in 20 minutes, to plan the new war crimes for this weekend! Stop bloviating and have a seat already!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJQn8xA5_4Y
‘Courage’? That shows their mutual degree of discomfort. Why courage? And as for ‘intelligence’ – well words fail me.
I’m not sure Tchaikovsky and Glinka would want their music used for Commuinist propaganda.
Having said that, based on the concerts I have attended, I still like Gergiev *as a conductor*.
You are aware Russia is no longer communist, right? Please say you’re aware. Otherwise I despair for the world.
It’s possible that the author above is much better aware than you are that, despite the change on the slogans, none of the deep things that really matter have also changed. It’s the same methods and style, even the same clans, and of course the same outcomes.
The first time I saw him conduct, I thought he had some neurological issues. Disgusting and disgraceful behavior from a mediocre musician. Vast overrated darling of major Western opera houses and concert halls. But thankfully not anymore!
Good riddance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNedtGB-30w (01/06/24 at 19/37)
At the moment – the first part is a perfect fit – the second part will happen for both or never!
Yawn – why not write about Gergiev’s performances for a change? There is nothing bad to say there. His recent touring performances of Bruckner 4 and Scheherezade with the Mariinsky orchestra were absolutely superb, with a beauty of sound, architectural interpretation, and passion on a level that easily competes with the likes of the BSO and VPO. We musicians must not allow politicians to weaponise us. Every note we play is for all of humanity, including Russians. Cancelling Russian musicians is childish, virtue-signalling behaviour, generally pushed by those who have no experience of the horror of war, and therefore no desire for peace. How different things were in 1959 when, at the height of the cold war, Bernstein boldly toured with the New York Philharmonic to Moscow, in an attempt to bring humanity away from the brink of nuclear self-annihalation. Musicians need to stand up and do the same now!
Agreed. Geopolitics are so complex and don’t fit in to the standard issue Social Justice outrage machine. Gergiev is first and foremost a working artist, and a superb one. If he wants to keep being the leader of the major Russian music institutions , he maintains his good relationship with Putin, who has a very high approval among Russians. When this war is over, and it will be soon, the musicians who shunned their colleagues simply because they were Russian will not be forgotten for their easy, cost-free virtue signaling. Reminds me of the way the US rounded up Japanese US citizens during WWII.