(Credit: Valeri Guérguiev)

Valery Gergiev could return to Carnegie Hall if the Trump administration gets its way.

During his visit to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Chairman of the United States Commission of Fine Arts, told Russian news outlets that his goal was to get Gergiev to perform at the historic concert hall for its 135-year anniversary.

He said, “Tchaikovsky opened Carnegie Hall 135 years ago, and now the goal is to ensure that Maestro Gergiev can perform there this year.”

Cook also noted that the concert was being discussed and that Gergiev would perform with the St. Petersburg Youth Orchestra. However, no agreements had been made as of this date.

The chairmen noted that the concert depended not only on the venue but also on the State Department and US President Donald Trump, since Gergiev cannot come into the United States currently.

Cook is currently overseeing President Trump’s controversial White House ballroom extension and became the first U.S. official since 2017 to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During his time in Russia he held private diplomatic talks with Kremlin officials.

Valery Gergiev has not performed in the United States since 2022, when the War in Ukraine began. Carnegie Hall was one of the first venues to let the conductor go when Gergiev failed to denounce Putin’s invasion. Since then Gergiev has been seen as one of Putin’s most loyal allies and has been named General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre and was elected Co-Chairman of the Union of Theater Performers of Russia.