Valery Gergiev

Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (
Early life
Gergiev was born in Moscow. He is the son of Tamara Timofeevna (Tatarkanovna) Lagkueva and Abisal Zaurbekovich Gergiev, both of
His principal conducting teacher was Ilya Musin. His sister, Larissa, is a pianist and director of the Mariinsky's singers' academy.[3]
Career

In 1978, Gergiev became assistant conductor at the
After the 2004

During the
In June 2011, Gergiev joined the International Tchaikovsky Competition and introduced reforms to the organisation.[8] On 5 May 2016, Gergiev performed at the Roman Theatre of Palmyra at a concert event called Praying for Palmyra – Music revives ancient ruins, devoted to casualties of the March 2016 Palmyra offensive.[9]
In December 2023, Gergiev was appointed artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre, with immediate effect, with an initial contract of 5 years. Gergiev is the first person to hold the directorships of the Mariinsky Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre simultaneously.[10]
Career outside of Russia
In 1985, Gergiev made his debut in the
In 2015, Gergiev became chief conductor of the
Political involvement
Gergiev has been, according to Alex Ross in The New Yorker, "a prominent supporter of the current Russian regime" of Vladimir Putin. In 2012, in a television ad for Putin's third Presidential campaign, he said: "One needs to be able to hold oneself presidentially, so that people reckon with the country. I don't know if it's fear? Respect? Reckoning."[18]
In December 2012, Gergiev sided with the Putin administration against the members of Russian band Pussy Riot and suggested that their motivation was commercial.[19]
In New York City in 2013, the
In March 2014 he joined a host of other Russian arts and cultural figures in signing an open letter in support of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The letter was posted on the website of Russia's culture ministry on 12 March 2014. In the letter signatories stated that they "firmly declare our support for the position of the president of the Russian Federation" in the region.[24][25] However, in September 2015, as he became chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, Gergiev said that he did not really sign the letter to Putin, but only had a phone conversation about it with Vladimir Medinsky.[26] The New York Times reported that Russian artists may have been pushed by the Russian government to endorse the annexation of Crimea. The article specifically mentioned Gergiev, who faced protests in New York City while performing.[27] After a public outcry in the country, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture blacklisted Gergiev from performing in Ukraine.[27][28][29]
Terminations after 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Following the
On 28 February, the
Personal life
In 1999, Gergiev married musician Natalya Dzebisova, herself of Ossetian descent and 27 years his junior.[36] They have three children together: two boys and a girl. From time to time, Gergiev has been reported to be a friend of Putin; they have been said to be godfathers to each other's children,[37] but in a letter to The Daily Telegraph Gergiev rejected this notion.[38] From a past relationship with the language teacher Lena Ostovich, he has another daughter, Natasha.[2]
In April 2022, the Anti-Corruption Foundation of Russian Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny released a video revealing the immense wealth of Gergiev, including various properties in Italy (among others Palazzo Barbarigo in Venice), the U.S. and Russia. A significant part of his wealth is said to stem from the inheritance of Yoko Nagae Ceschina.[39][40][41]
Recordings
Gergiev has focused on recording Russian composers' works, both operatic and symphonic, including Mikhail Glinka, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky and Rodion Shchedrin. Most of his recordings, on the Philips label, are with the Kirov Orchestra, but he has also recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic. Recent undertaking such as the complete Prokofiev symphonies (from the live concerts of 2004) and a Berlioz cycle, are with the London Symphony Orchestra.[42]
Gergiev's recording of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet with London Symphony Orchestra on LSO Live in 2010 was voted the winner of the Orchestral category and the Disc of the Year for the 2011 BBC Music Magazine Awards.[43]
Discography
Ballets
Album | Orchestra | Label | Discs | Release Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet (complete ballet) | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1991 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Sleeping Beauty (complete ballet) | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1993 |
STRAVINSKY: The Firebird (L'Oiseau de feu) (complete ballet) | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1998 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker (complete ballet) | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1998 |
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring (Le sacre du printemps) (with Scriabin's The Poem of Ecstasy) | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 2001 |
STRAVINSKY: The Firebird (complete ballet) (+ Works by Prokofiev & Schnittke) | VPO | TDK | 1 | 2001 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (complete ballet) (Highlights available separately) | Mariinsky | Decca | 2 | 2007 |
PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet (complete ballet) | LSO | LSO Live | 2 | 2010 |
RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé (complete ballet) (with Pavane pour une infante défunte and Boléro) | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2010 |
MELIKOV: Legend of Love | Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra
|
Melodiya | 2 | 2015 |
Operas
Album | Orchestra | Label | Discs | Release Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
MUSSORGSKY: Khovanshchina | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1992 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Pique Dame | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1993 |
PROKOFIEV: War and Peace
|
Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1993 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Sadko | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1994 |
BORODIN: Prince Igor | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1995 |
PROKOFIEV: The Fiery Angel | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1995 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Maid of Pskov | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1997 |
VERDI: La Forza del Destino (1862 original version)
|
Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1997 |
GLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmila | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1997 |
PROKOFIEV: Betrothal in a Monastery | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1998 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Mazeppa | Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1998 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Iolanta | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1998 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
|
Kirov | Philips | 3 | 1999 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Tsar's Bride | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1999 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Kashchey the Immortal
|
Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1999 |
MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov (1869 & 1872 version) | Kirov | Philips | 5 | 1999 |
PROKOFIEV: The Gambler | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1999 |
PROKOFIEV: Semyon Kotko | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 2000 |
PROKOFIEV: The Love for Three Oranges | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 2001 |
BARTÓK: Bluebeard's Castle | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2009 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: The Nose | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 2 | 2009 |
STRAVINSKY: Oedipus rex (Comes with Ballet Les noces) | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2010 |
WAGNER: Parsifal | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 4 | 2010 |
DONIZETTI: Lucia di Lammermoor | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 2 | 2011 |
Orchestral works
Album | Orchestra | Label | Discs | Release Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
BORODIN: Symphonies No. 1 & 2 | RPhO | Polygram | 1 | 1991 |
RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 2 | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1994 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture and others | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1994 |
STRAVINSKY: The Firebird – SCRIABIN: Prometheus | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1998 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 | VPO | Philips | 1 | 1999 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, Francesca da Rimini, Romeo and Juliet | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 2000 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade,
BORODIN: In the Steppes of Central Asia,
BALAKIREV: |
Kirov | Philips | 1 | 2001 |
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring – SCRIABIN: The Poem of Ecstasy | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 2001 |
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No.1 (+ Works by Stravinsky & Schnittke) | VPO | TDK | 1 | 2001 |
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition | VPO | Philips | 1 | 2002 |
BERLIOZ: La Mort de Cléopâtre (Soprano: Olga Borodina )
|
VPO | Philips | 1 | 2003 |
PROKOFIEV: Scythian Suite, Alexander Nevsky
|
Kirov | Philips | 1 | 2003 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: The War Symphonies (No. 4–9)
Each one available separately |
Kirov | Philips | 5 | 2005 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphonies No. 4, 5, 6Each one available separately | VPO | Philips | 3 | 2005 |
PROKOFIEV: Completes Symphonies (No. 1–7) (No. 4: 1930 + 1947 Versions) | LSO | Philips | 4 | 2006 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2008 |
MAHLER:Symphony No. 3 | LSO | LSO Live | 2 | 2008 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2008 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 7 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2008 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture, Moscow Cantata, Marche Slave, Coronation March, Danish Overture | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2009 |
MAHLER: Symphony Nos. 2 & 10 (Adagio) | LSO | LSO Live | 2 | 2009 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies No. 1 & 15 | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2009 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 8 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2009 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 4 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2010 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies No. 2 & 11 | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2010 |
RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 2 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2010 |
DEBUSSY: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, La Mer, Jeux | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2011 |
LISZT: Les préludes, MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn 2011)
|
VPO | DG | 1 | 2011 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2011 |
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2011 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies No. 3 & 10 | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2011 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad" | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2012 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 8 | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2013 |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies No. 4, 5 & 6 | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 2 | 2014 |
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Overture: Waverley | LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2014 |
Orchestral works with soloists
ALBUM | SOLOIST | ORCHESTRA | LABEL | DISCS | RELEASE YEAR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PROKOFIEV: Complete Piano Concertos (No. 1–5) | Alexander Toradze | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 1998 |
SCHNITTKE: Viola Concerto (+ Works by Stravinsky & Prokofiev) | Yuri Bashmet | VPO | TDK | 1 | 2001 |
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No.2, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini | Lang Lang | Mariinsky | DG | 1 | 2003 |
TCHAIKOVSKY & MIASKOVSKY: Violin Concertos | Vadim Repin | Mariinsky | Philips | 1 | 2003 |
BRAHMS & KORNGOLD: Violin Concertos | Nikolaj Znaider | VPO | RCA Red Seal | 1 | 2009 |
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No.3, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini | Denis Matsuev | Mariinsky | Mariinsky Live | 1 | 2010 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Variation on a Rococo Theme, PROKOFIEV: Sinfonia Concertante
|
Gautier Capuçon | Mariinsky | Virgin | 1 | 2010 |
Lang Lang: Liszt, My Piano Hero (LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1) | Lang Lang | VPO | Sony | 1 | 2011 |
Berlioz: Harold en Italie, La Mort de Cléopâtre | Antoine Tamestit, viola
Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano |
LSO | LSO Live | 1 | 2014 |
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No.3 | Behzod Abduraimov | RCO | RCO Live | 1 | 2020 |
Vocal works
ALBUM | SOLOIST | ORCHESTRA | LABEL | DISCS | RELEASE YEAR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tchaikovsky & Verdi Arias | Dmitri Hvorostovsky | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1990 |
Tchaikovsky & Verdi Arias | Galina Gorchakova | Kirov | Philips | 1 | 1996 |
PROKOFIEV: Ivan The Terrible Cantata | RPhO | Philips | 1 | 1998 | |
VERDI: Requiem | Kirov | Philips | 2 | 2001 | |
Russian Album | Anna Netrebko | Mariinsky | DG | 1 | 2006 |
Homage: The Age Of The Diva | Renée Fleming | Mariinsky | Decca | 1 | 2007 |
Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette | Olga Borodina | LSO
LSO Chorus |
LSO Live | 2 | 2016 |
Videos
DVD
- Valery Gergiev in Rehearsal and Performance
- Verdi: La forza del destino, Marinsky Theatre Orchestra, 1998.
- Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky, 2003.
- 60 Minutes: The Wild Man of Music, 2004.
- Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery, Kirov Opera, 2005.
- Shostakovich against Stalin, 2005.
- Rimsky-Korsakov: Sadko, Kirov Opera, 2006.
- Puccini: Turandot, Vienna Philharmonic, 2006.
- "All the Russias – a musical journey": a five-part documentary through the tradition and heritage of Russian music.
- Tschaikovsky: Eugene Onegin; Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Renee Fleming, Ramon Vargas, Metropolitan Opera, 2007
- "Gergiev Conducts Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem" Kringelborn, Kwiecien, Swedish Radio Choir, Rotterdam Philharmonic, 2008
- Berlioz:
- Wiener Philharmoniker, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Philipp Stozl, Stage Director. Blu-ray or DVD Naxos 2007 – 2009
- Les Troyens, Lance Ryan, Énée, Gabriele Viviani, Corhèbe, Gorgio Guiseppini, Panthée, Stephen Milling, Narbal, Éric Cutler, Iopas, Dmitri Voropaev, Hylas, Oksana Shilova, Ascagne, Elisabete Matos, Cassandre, Daniele Barcellona, Didon, Ziata Bulicheva Anna, Cor de la Generolitat Valenciana, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Carlus Padrissa, Stage Director. (Recorded on 2009) Blu-ray or DVD Unitel Classica 2010
VHS
- Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame, Acts 1 and 2, Kirov Opera, 1992.
- Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Kirov Opera, 1993.
- Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame, Kirov Opera, 1994.
- Mussorgsky: Kovanshchina, Kirov Orchestra, 1994.
- Prokofiev: Fiery Angel, Polygram Video, 1996.
Honours and awards
- Russian
- Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation – for particular services to the State and its people. The new honour was created 29 March 2013, and first awarded on 1 May 2013.[44]
- Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"[45]
See also
- Ballerina (documentary)
References
- ^ "Bolshoi Theatre •". bolshoi.ru. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ a b John O'Mahony (18 September 1999). "Demon king of the pit". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
- ^ Duchen, Jessica (19 January 2007). "Valery Gergiev: Light the red touchpaper, stand back". The Independent. London, UK. Archived from the original on 23 January 2007.
- ^ Norris, Geoffrey (18 January 2007). "A Russian energy import". Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007.
- ^ Tom Service (10 November 2004). "Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ Tim Cornwell (16 August 2008). "How many of my people were burned?". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, UK. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ The Times, LSO conductor Valery Gergiev leads defiant South Ossetia concert, 22 August 2008.
- ^ Tom Service (20 September 2011). "Everything to play for at the Tchaikovsky competition". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ^ Лилеев, Дмитрий (27 July 2017). "Операция «Пальмира»: Итоги 2016 года. Российские музыканты выступили в древнем сирийском городе". Muzykalnoye obozrenie № 6 (413) 2017 (in Russian).
- ^ Javier C. Hernández and Ivan Nechepurenko (1 December 2023). "Valery Gergiev, a Putin Ally, Chosen to Lead Bolshoi Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ Tom Service (10 May 2004). "LSO/Gergiev". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
- ^ Morrison, Richard (24 May 2005). "Lightning conductor". The Times. London, UK. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011.
- ^ Charlotte Higgins (14 April 2006). "Russian maestro reveals his plans for the LSO". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
- ^ Charlotte Higgins (26 April 2007). "Orchestras urge free concerts for children". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
- ^ "Valery Gergiev Chefdirigent der Münchner Philharmoniker ab 2015" (Press release). Landeshauptstadt München Kulturreferat. 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ^ "Geschichte des Orchesters". Die Münchner Philharmoniker. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ a b Javier C. Hernández (1 March 2022). "Valery Gergiev, a Putin Ally, Fired as Chief Conductor in Munich". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ Alex Ross, "Imperious: The problem with Valery Gergiev", The New Yorker, 4 November 2013.
- ^ Adam Sherwin, "London Symphony Orchestra director takes sides with Putin against Pussy Riot", The Independent, 12 December 2012.
- ^ Cooper, Michael (23 September 2013). "Gay Rights Protest Greets Opening Night at the Met". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Cooper, Michael (10 October 2013). "Gay Rights Protests Follow Gergiev to Carnegie Hall". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Mark Brown (7 November 2013). "Valery Gergiev concert picketed by gay rights supporters". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ^ Melissa Eddy, "Gergiev, With Eye on Munich Job, Responds to Antigay Accusations", New York Times, 27 December 2013.
- ^ "The cultural figures of Russia – in support of the position of the President in Ukraine and Crimea". Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
- ^ Ng, David (12 March 2014). "Putin policy in Crimea backed by Valery Gergiev, other arts figures". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Gergiev, Valery (21 September 2015). "Sometimes people think they are holding a magic wand". tass.ru/en (Interview). Interviewed by Andrei Vandenko. Russian News Agency TASS. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ a b Tommasini, Anthony (3 April 2014). "Gustavo Dudamel and Valery Gergiev Face National Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Fonseca-Wollheim, Corinna da (14 October 2017). "Lisa Batiashvili on Violins, Ukraine and Valery Gergiev". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Meier, Andrew (14 October 2017). "Valery Gergiev: 'Anyone Can Buy a Ticket'". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Munich, Rotterdam may fire Gergiev, London drops Bolshoi". AP. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Javier C. Hernández (24 February 2022). "Valery Gergiev, a Putin Supporter, Will Not Conduct at Carnegie Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ Russia-Ukraine: What to know as Russia attacks Ukraine. Apnews.com
- ^ Media release. Verbierfestival.com
- ^ "München, Baden-Baden und die Elbphilharmonie trennen sich vom Dirigenten Gergiev". Mangelnde Distanzierung von Ukraine-Krieg ... Weil er sich nicht von Putins Politik lossagt, ist Valery Gergiev nicht mehr Chefdirigent der Münchner Philharmoniker. Auch andere Konzertveranstalter sagen seine Auftritte ab. (in German). Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH., Berlin. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Russian conductor Gergiev expelled from Swedish academy over Ukraine". France 24. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Lubow, Arthur (12 March 2009). "The Loyalist". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Mansfield, Susan (15 August 2008). "Reaping the Russian whirlwind – Valery Gergiev". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, UK. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
- ^ Valery Gergiev (August 2008). "Letters to the Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ Documentary about Gergiev‘s estate: Дирижёр путинской войны, 12 April 2022, retrieved 25 April 2022
- ^ Andreis, Elisabetta (3 January 2022). "Il tesoro immobiliare di Valery Gergiev a Milano e l'eredità Ceschina: 20 palazzi sul mercato". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ Tarassova, Anna (14 April 2022). "The Maestro's ATM". VAN Magazine. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Andrew Clements (23 June 2006). "Prokofiev: Symphonies 1–7, LSO/Gergiev". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
- ^ "BBC Music Magazine Awards – The Results". BBC Music Magazine. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011.
- ^ "Valery Gergiev receives the title of Hero of Labour". mariinsky.ru. Mariinsky Theatre. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013.
- ^ "Putin ally Gergiev gets top theatre job at Bolshoi as well as Mariinsky". BBC News. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Valery Gergiev at AllMusic