Two prominent festivals have cut ties with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. On Monday morning the Riga Jurmala Festival in Latvia and the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland decided to cancel upcoming events with the leading conductor. In a statement by Executive and Artistic Director Michael Haefliger of the Lucerne Festival said, “Lucerne Festival has decided to cancel the {…}
Felsner Artists has dropped Valery Gergiev from their roster. The management company noted in a letter, “Today I have informed Maestro Valery Gergiev that he is no longer a client of Felsner Artists.” The letter added, “In light of the criminal war waged by the Russian regime against the democratic and independent nation of Ukraine and against the European open {…}
(Photo by Valeri Guérguiev) Carnegie Hall has canceled all performances by the Mariinsky Orchestra with Valery Gergiev scheduled for this May. The Russian orchestra was set to perform on May 3 and 4. In a statement, Carnegie Hall stated that the cancelation was due to recent world events and ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19. The world events in question are {…}
The Rotterdam Philharmonic is giving Valery Gergiev an ultimatum following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The orchestra released a statement noting, “The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the management of Rotterdam Philharmonic Festivals (organizer of the Gergiev Festival) have taken great notice of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. In the case Valéry Gergiev does not openly distance himself from President Putin’s action {…}
The Munich Philharmonic is calling on Chief Conductor Valery Gergiev to distance himself from Putin. In a statement by the Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter, “I have clarified my stance against Valery Gergiev and urge him to also clearly and indisputably distance himself from the brutal assault, Putin against Ukraine and now especially against our partner city Kyiv. If Valery {…}
Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Philharmonic have announced that Valery Gergiev will no longer conduct the performances slated for Feb. 25, 26, and 27. Following threats of protest by Ukrainian activists, the conductor and pianist Denis Matsuev have canceled their engagements. As a result, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct all three programs which are unchanged. A pianist was not announced at {…}
Conductor Valery Gergiev is under fire for his storied support of Putin. Following the Russian leader’s decision to attack and invade Ukraine, many are calling on Gergiev to condemn the leader. In Milan, where the Russian conductor is currently leading “The Queen of Spades,” the Mayor of Milan Beppe Sala ordered the company’s superintendent Dominique Meyer to fire the Russian {…}
(Credit: ©Alexander Neff) The Mariinsky Theatre has announced the operas it will present throughout September and October 2021. The company will showcase “The Maid of Orleans” with a cast starring Ekaterina Semenchuk, Maria Bayankin, Sergei Skorohodov, Mikhail Petrenko, Vladislav Kupriyanov, Alexei Markov, and Evgeny Nikitin under the baton of Valery Gergiev. Performance Dates: Sept. 8 & Oct. 9, 2021 “Le Nozze {…}
(Credit: Oxana Ivleva) The Verbier Festival is set to present a concert performance of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” on July 20, 2021. The showcase will star Maria Bayankina in the role of Minnie. She will be joined by Brandon Jovanovich as Dick Johnson and Ambrogio Maestri as Jack Rance. Other cast members in the performance will include Germán E. {…}
(Credit: Valeri Guérguiev) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that Valery Gergiev will not conduct the performances of Wagner‘s “Das Rheingold” on June 30 and July 3, 2021. No immediate reason was given for the cancellation. However, current arrivals from Russian Federation to Germany have been banned except for the German nationals and residents due to the explosive spread of the {…}
(Credit: Valeri Guérguiev) Valery Gergiev is set to return to Parma for the first time in 19 years as part of the Verdi Festival. The famed conductor will conduct the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna on Oct. 2 at the Teatro Regio di Parma in a concert featuring music by Verdi, Rossini, and Mendelssohn. Gergiev will conduct Rossini’s “Guillaume {…}