Valery Gergiev is an outstanding conductor of our time. He is the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater. He is also the chief conductor of the London Symphony and Munich Philharmonic Orchestras.
Biography
Valery Gergiev was born in Moscow in 1953. The future conductor in North Ossetia has grown. There he graduated from a music school. From 1972 to 1977, Valery Abisalovich studied at the Leningrad Conservatory in a class with Ilya Musin. As a student, he took part in the prestigious International Competition among conductors and won the second prize. After graduating from the conservatory, V. Gergiev began his career at the Kirov Theater as an assistant to the chief conductor, whose post was then held by the famous Yu. Temirkanov. In 1981, he headed the Armenian Symphony Orchestra, which he directed for 4 years. In 1988, Y. Temirkanov joined the orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic, and Valery Abisalovich took his place in the Kirov Theater.
Under the direction of V. Gergiev, festivals are held: P. I. Tchaikovsky, Easter, M. P. Mussorgsky, R. Wagner, N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, S. S. Prokofiev.
Back in the 90s of the 20th century, Valery Abisalovich often began to speak abroad. From 1995 to 2008, he was the main guest conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He performed a lot at the Metropolitan Opera. In 2007, V. Gergiev took over as chief conductor of the famous London Symphony Orchestra.
Valery Abisalovich conducts opera performances, concert and symphonic works.
Since April 2010, V. Gergiev is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at St. Petersburg State University. Since 2013, the conductor has served as chairman of the All-Russian Choral Society.
Valery Gergiev is a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art in Russia.
A family
Father of the maestro - Abisal Zaurbekovich Gergiev - a veteran of World War II, the commander of the battalion. Mother - Tamara Timofeevna Lagkueva. Sisters - Larisa and Tamara, the first of which is the People's Artist of Russia and Ukraine.
Gergiev Valery Abisalovich and his wife Natalya Dzebisova started a family in 1999. The wife of the maestro is also related to the beautiful - she is a graduate of the art school of the city of Vladikavkaz. The spouses have three children. The eldest son, Abisal, is named after the father of V. Gergiev. A boy was born in 2000. The middle son, Valery, is named after the maestro himself. The year of his birth is 2001. And the youngest daughter is Tamara. The year of her birth is 2003. Also, Valery Abisalovich has another illegitimate daughter, Natalia, who was born in 1985.
In the photo presented in this article, Valery Gergiev with his wife and children.
Mariinsky
Valery Gergiev led the Mariinsky Theater in 1996. Today, the troupe gives 760 performances per year. The Mariinsky Theater is the most actively touring in the world. Now the troupe works on three stages. These are: historical, Concert Hall and the Mariinsky-2 complex.
Thanks to V. Gergiev, the theater carefully preserves and restores the traditions of the past, and also actively develops new horizons. Valery Abisalovich raised a galaxy of singers who have reached the world level. He contributed to the theater’s repertoire expanding and enriching itself. V. Gergiev also provides an opportunity for young contemporary composers to realize themselves on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. Another merit of Valery Abisalovich is that today the troupe performs all operas in the original language. The Valery Gergiev Orchestra enriched its repertoire. Now, in addition to operas and ballets, musicians perform works of other genres.
Munich Orchestra
In 2013, Valery Gergiev was appointed by the Munich authorities the head of the city philharmonic orchestra. In 2015, he took up his duties. The initiative to appoint V. Gergiev as the chief conductor came from the musicians of the orchestra. The maestro has a five-year contract. The general director of the collective, Paul Muller, speaks of Valery Abisalovich as one of the most charismatic conductors of our time. He believes that the gift of V. Gergiev to get magical sound from musicians will provide a wonderful future for the Munich orchestra. P. Muller also hopes that the skill of Valery Abisalovich will affect not only the musicians, but also the public, and the entire musical life of the city of Munich as a whole.
The first concerts of the conductor together with the Müchen Philharmonic Orchestra, opening the 2015-2016 season, took place on September 17, 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24. The musicians performed the following works: symphony No. 6 by P. I. Tchaikovsky, symphony No. 2 by G. Mahler, symphony No. 4 by A. Bruckner, a concert for violin and orchestra by J. Brahms, music from the ballets Don Juan by Richard Strauss and Romeo and Juliet ”by Sergei Prokofiev. The concerts were attended by: Mariinsky Theater soloist Olga Borodina and Dutch violinist Janine Jansen.
Tour schedule
All over the world Valery Gergiev performs with his orchestras. Concerts with the participation of the conductor in the season 2015-2016:
- Austria, Linz. With the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra.
- Germany. Frankfurt With the Philharmonic Orchestra of Munich.
- Austria. St. Florian. With the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra.
- Germany. Essen With the Philharmonic Orchestra of Munich.
- Switzerland. Lugano. With the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra.
- The capital of Great Britain. With the London Symphony Orchestra.
- Russia. St. Petersburg. Mariinskii Opera House.
- Austria. Vein. London Symphony Orchestra.
- United Kingdom. London. With the laureates of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky International Music Competition.
- Luxembourg. London Symphony Orchestra.
- United Kingdom. Birmingham. With the laureates of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky International Music Competition.
- France. Paris. London Symphony Orchestra.
- Germany. Munich. With the Philharmonic Orchestra of the city.
- America. New York. London Symphony Orchestra.
- Switzerland. Basel With the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra.
- America. New York. With the laureates of the competition named after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- The capital of France. With the orchestra of Paris.
- Spain. Barcelona With the Philharmonic Orchestra of Munich.
- America. New York. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Netherlands. Amsterdam. With the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
- America. Naples. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Charity fund
Conductor Valery Gergiev is the founder of the charity foundation. The director is Sergey Vladimirovich Mazanov. There is the “Valery Gergiev Foundation” since 2003. His main task is to promote the Mariinsky Concert Hall, on the stage of which over the 10 years of its existence such world-famous celebrities as Y. Bashmet, P. Domingo, R. Fleming, A. Netrebko, D. Matsuev and others have performed. Thanks to the fund, it is planned to build new buildings of the theater building, expand the functionality of existing rooms. With funds in the future, new art rooms, a pool, a spa, conference rooms, a cafe, a music store and rehearsals will be equipped. Tours of the Mariinsky Theater around the world are also organized with fund money. The V. Gergiev Foundation also provides tremendous support to talented young musicians and artists, organizes free promotions, and promotes professional education in the field of art.
Competition named after P.I. Tchaikovsky
Valery Gergiev leads the organizing committee of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky International Music Competition. Frequency - once every 4 years. The purpose of the competition is to identify new talents. Creative competitions are held in the following specialties: "solo singing", "violin", "piano" and "cello". For more than 50 years of existence, the Tchaikovsky Competition has opened a huge number of talented performers. For many, it was these creative competitions that became a successful start, allowed to receive the recognition of professionals, the love of the audience and a brilliant career.
Easter festival
It was founded by Valery Gergiev in 2002 with the support of Moscow Mayor Yu. Luzhkov. Each time the festival gathers a huge audience of listeners. Here you can hear well-known classical opuses, as well as rare works by contemporary composers. The festival hosts charity concerts. He sets himself educational and enlightening tasks. World famous celebrities take part in the concerts: Y. Bashmet, A. Netrebko, S. Roldugin, V. Feltsman, D. Matsuev, L. Kavakos, M. Pletnev and others.
Ranks and awards
The head of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev was awarded a huge number of awards and titles for his achievements in art. He is a laureate of state prizes of Russia. He has government awards of Italy, Germany, Japan, France, the Netherlands. In 1996 he received the title of People's Artist of Russia. Awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Prize. Valery Abisalovich - winner of the European Prize for the Support of Young Talents. The President of Russia, the maestro was awarded the title Hero of Labor. And also awarded two orders of Merit for the Fatherland. The conductor holds the title of President of the Edinburgh International Festival and Honorary Professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. And a huge number of titles, orders, medals, prizes and awards.