Breaking: Valery Gergiev faces orchestra Covid rebellion

Nevsky News reports that musicians at the Mariinsky Theatre are in uproar over an explosion of Covid infections, which they blame directly on their music director.

The first cases were recorded after a performance in Moscow’s Zaryadye Park, then spiralled to dozens of cases. One musicians said:  ‘More than 30 people are positive after today’s test. Not all tests have come yet, and not everyone has done it … ‘

Another sad: ‘Gergiev always does what he wants. He is the king, and we are his serf musicians. He has a complete sense of impunity. He is a manager, he makes money. Only sometimes – creativity.’

Gergiev is presently conducting in Vienna.

He is due to give a concert with the Mariinsky in Madrid on Friday. Many of the players are still suffering from Covid.

Catch it while you can.

Photo (c) Laura Luostarinen

UPDATE: “Cases of illness at the Mariinsky Theatre, both in the creative team and in other workshops, do not have a significant impact on the current work of the theater and the tour schedule, ” the press service of the Mariinsky Theater reported.“In addition to these measures, the Mariinsky Theater carefully monitors compliance with all necessary security measures: including temperature measurements at the service and spectator entrances, wearing medical masks inside the theater is mandatory, and surfaces and all the premises of the theater are regularly disinfected.”