Valery Gergiev
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Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (Ossetic: Гергиты Абисалы фырт Валери; Russian: Вале́рий Абиса́лович Ге́ргиев (born in Moscow, 2 May 1953) is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. He is also associated with the Metropolitan Opera (principal guest conductor), the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (principal conductor, until 2008), and the London Symphony Orchestra (principal conductor, from 2007).
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[edit] Early life
Gergiev is the son of the Ossetian parents Tamara Tatarkanovna and Abisal Zaurbekovich[1]. He and his siblings were raised in Vladikavkaz in their native North Ossetia in the Caucasus. While not a child prodigy, he began to learn the piano at secondary school, and then went to Leningrad to study at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, from 1972-1977. One of his sisters, Larissa Gergieva, is the director of the Mariinsky's singers' academy[2].
[edit] Career
In 1978, he became assistant conductor at the Kirov Opera (now the Mariinsky Opera) under Yuri Temirkanov, where he made his debut conducting Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace. He was chief conductor of the Armenian State Orchestra from 1981 until 1985.
In 1991, for the first time, Gergiev conducted a western European opera company with the Bavarian State Opera in a performance of Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Munich. In the same year he made his American début, performing War and Peace with the San Francisco Opera. Since then he has conducted both operatic and orchestral repertoire across the world. Gergiev is also associated with numerous music festivals, including the White Nights festival in Saint Petersburg.
He became chief conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky in 1988, and overall director of the company, appointed by the Russian government, in 1996. In addition to his artistic work with the Mariinsky, Gergiev has worked in fund-raising for such projects as the recently built 1100-seat Mariinsky Hall, and intends to achieve complete renovations of the Mariinsky Theatre by 2010[3].
In 1995, he began his tenure as principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Gergiev will step down from his Rotterdam position in August 2008. In 1997, Gergiev became principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. His current contract there runs through the 2007-2008 season.
In 2003, he initiated and conducted at the Mariinsky Theatre the first complete cycle of Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung to be performed in Russia for over 90 years. The production's design and concept reflects many aspects of Ossetian culture. Gergiev conducted this production in Cardiff in 2006 at the Wales Millennium Centre, and in Costa Mesa, California in October 2006 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. This production is scheduled for New York City in summer 2007.
In 1988, Gergiev made his first guest conducting appearance with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). In his next appearance with the LSO in 2004, he conducted the symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev[4] [5]. This engagement led to his appointment in 2005 as the 15th Principal Conductor of the LSO, taking over from Sir Colin Davis as of January 1, 2007[6] [7] [8]. Gergiev's initial contract with the LSO is for 3 years[9]. His first official concert as the LSO Principal Conductor was on 23 January 2007[10] [11] [12] [13], as he was supposed to have conducted his first concert as LSO Principal Conductor on 13 January, but had to withdraw because of illness[14].
[edit] Recordings
Gergiev has focussed on recording Russian composers' works, both opera and symphonic, including Mikhail Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. Most of his recordings, on the Philips label, are with the Kirov Orchestra, while he has also recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic. A recent undertaking, the complete Prokofiev Symphonies, is with the LSO[15].
[edit] Style
Gergiev has a reputation for a passionate, apparently abrasive, conducting style, and a tendency to grunt at the podium. He is a driven conductor who produces his best in pieces of great drama. He stated that his favourite composer is Sergei Prokofiev in his DVD recording of Prokofiev's Scythian Suite.
[edit] Politics
Gergiev has also been a consistent supporter of peace in the Caucasus, particularly in the conflict between the Georgian central government and South Ossetia.
[edit] Awards
He was awarded the 2006 Polar Music Prize together with Led Zeppelin.
[edit] Personal life
In 1999, Gergiev married the musician Natalya Debisova and they have three children
[edit] Selected discography
[edit] CD
- Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies, LSO, Philips, 4 discs.
- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring/Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 2001.
- Art of Valery Gergiev, 2 discs.
- Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5, and 6, Vienna Philharmonic, Philips, 3 discs.
- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring/Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 1998.
- Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Complete Ballet, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 1998.
- Prokofiev: Love for Three Oranges, Universal Classics, 2001.
- Shostakovich: Symphonies 4-9 "The War Symphonies", Marinsky Theatre Orchestra, Philips, 5 discs, 2005.
- Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7, Universal Music Group, 2003.
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Vienna Philharmonic, Philips, 2005.
- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, Universal Classics, 2002.
- Borodin: Symphonies 1 and 2, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Polygram, 1991.
- Tchaikovsky: Iolantha, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 2 discs, 1996.
- Borodin: Prince Igor, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 3 discs, 1995.
- Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Kirov Orchestra, Philips, 2001.
- Rachmoninov: Piano Concerto No.2, Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini, Kirov Orchestra, Deutsche Grammohpon, 2003
[edit] DVD
- Valery Gergiev in Rehearsal and Performance
- 60 Minutes: The Wild Man of Music, 2004.
- Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky, 2003.
- Verdi: La forza del destino, Marinsky Theatre Orchestra, 1998.
- Rimsky-Korsadov: Sadko, Kirov Opera, 2006.
- Puccini: Turandot, Vienna Philharmonic, 2006.
- Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery, Kirov Opera, 2005.
- Shostakovich against Stalin, 2005.
[edit] VHS
- Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Kirov Opera, 1993.
- Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame, Kirov Opera, 1994.
- Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame, Acts 1 and 2, Kirov Opera, 1992.
- Mussorgsky: Kovanshchina, Kirov Orchestra, 1994.
- Prokofiev: Fiery Angel, Polygram Video, 1996.
[edit] References
- ^ John O'Mahony, "Demon king of the pit". The Guardian, 18 September 1999.
- ^ Jessica Duchen, "Valery Gergiev: Light the red touchpaper, stand back". The Independent, 19 January 2007.
- ^ Geoffrey Norris, "A Russian energy import". Telegraph, 18 January 2007.
- ^ Tom Service, LSO/Gergiev review from the Barbican Centre, The Guardian, 10 May 2004.
- ^ Andrew Clark, "Mariinsky magic at the LSO". Financial Times, 10 October 2005.
- ^ David Ward, "LSO scores a classical coup with Gergiev". The Guardian, 24 May 2005.
- ^ Daniel J. Wakin, "Conduct With All You've Got, Conk Out During Intermission". New York Times, 5 March 2006 (article accessible only to TimesSelect subscribers).
- ^ Richard Morrison, "Lightning conductor". The Times, 24 May 2005.
- ^ Charlotte Higgins, "Russian maestro reveals his plans for the LSO". The Guardian, 14 April 2006.
- ^ Tim Ashley, "LSO/Gergiev" (concert review). The Guardian, 25 January 2007.
- ^ Edward Seckerson, "A fiery start to the honeymoon". The Independent, 25 January 2007.
- ^ Geoffrey Norris, " A rarity amid the routine ". Telegraph, 25 January 2007.
- ^ Neil Fisher, "LSO/Gergiev" (concert review). The Times of London, 25 January 2007.
- ^ Tim Ashley, "Gubaidulina" (concert review). The Guardian, 16 January 2007.
- ^ John Fordham, "Prokofiev: Symphonies 1-7, LSO/Gergiev" (CD review). The Guardian, 23 June 2006.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
| Preceded by David Khanjian |
Principal Conductor, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra 1981–1985 |
Succeeded by Rafael Mangassarian |
| Preceded by Yuri Temirkanov |
Principal Conductor and Music Director, Kirov Opera 1988–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Preceded by Jeffrey Tate |
Principal Conductor, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 1995–2007 |
Succeeded by Yannick Nézet-Séguin (designate) |
| Preceded by Sir Colin Davis |
Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra 2007–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
