Valery Gergiev facts for kids

Gergiev at the 2010 Time 100 Gala

Valery Gergiev (born 2 May 1953) is a famous Russian conductor and opera director. He is known for leading many orchestras and opera companies around the world. Currently, he is the main director for both the Mariinsky Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia. He also directs the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. Before this, he was the chief conductor for the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic.

Early Life and Music Training

Valery Gergiev was born in Moscow, Russia. His parents, Tamara Timofeevna and Abisal Zaurbekovich Gergiev, were both from the Ossetian people. He grew up with his brothers and sisters in Vladikavkaz, a city in North Ossetia-Alania. This area is in the Caucasus mountains.

Gergiev started learning to play the piano when he was in secondary school. Later, from 1972 to 1977, he studied music at the Leningrad Conservatory. His main teacher for conducting was Ilya Musin. Valery's sister, Larissa, is also a musician. She is a pianist and helps run the Mariinsky's academy for singers.

Valery Gergiev's Career

Gergiev in Brussels in 2007

In 1978, Gergiev began working as an assistant conductor at the Kirov Opera. This opera house is now called the Mariinsky Opera. His first time conducting there was for Sergei Prokofiev's opera, War and Peace.

From 1981 to 1985, he was the chief conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1988, he became the chief conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Russian government then made him the overall director of the company in 1996.

After a sad event in 2004, the Beslan school massacre, Gergiev spoke on television. He asked people to stay calm and not seek revenge. He also led concerts to remember the people who died in the attack.

Valery Gergiev's requiem concert in Tskhinvali, 21 August 2008

During the 2008 South Ossetia war, Gergiev visited Tskhinvali. He conducted a concert near the damaged building of the South Ossetian Parliament. This concert was a tribute to those who were affected by the war.

In June 2011, Gergiev joined the International Tchaikovsky Competition. He helped make changes to how the competition was organized. On 5 May 2016, Gergiev performed at the Roman Theatre of Palmyra. This concert was called Praying for Palmyra – Music revives ancient ruins. It honored the victims of the March 2016 Palmyra offensive.

In December 2023, Gergiev was chosen to be the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre. This was a big step in his career. He is the first person to lead both the Mariinsky Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre at the same time.

Working Outside Russia

Valery Gergiev has also worked in many other countries. In 1985, he performed in the United Kingdom for the first time. He played with famous musicians like pianist Evgeny Kissin. In 1988, he was a guest conductor for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).

In 1991, Gergiev led a Western European opera company for the first time. He conducted Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Munich, Germany. That same year, he made his first appearance in America. He conducted War and Peace with the San Francisco Opera.

Gergiev returned to the LSO in 2004. He conducted all seven symphonies by Sergei Prokofiev. Because of this, he was chosen as the Orchestra's main conductor in 2007. He held this role until 2015.

In 2015, Gergiev became the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic. However, in March 2022, he was removed from this position. This happened after he chose not to speak out against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Political Views

Valery Gergiev has openly supported the current Russian government. In 2012, he appeared in a TV advertisement for Vladimir Putin's presidential campaign. He said that a leader needs to act in a way that makes other countries respect Russia.

Gergiev has stated that he supports equal rights for all people. He said, "I am an artist and have for over three decades worked with tens of thousands of people and many of them are indeed my friends." He also mentioned that his busy schedule makes it hard for him to get involved in detailed political discussions. In December 2013, he wrote a letter to the city of Munich. In it, he confirmed his full support for the city's anti-discrimination laws.

Personal Life

In 1999, Valery Gergiev married Natalya Dzebisova, who is also a musician. She is also of Ossetian descent. They have three children together: two boys and one girl. Gergiev also has another daughter, Natasha, from an earlier relationship.

Recordings

Gergiev has made many recordings of music. He often focuses on works by Russian composers. These include Mikhail Glinka, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky, and Rodion Shchedrin. Most of his recordings are with the Kirov Orchestra on the Philips label. He has also recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra.

His recording of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet with the London Symphony Orchestra won awards in 2011. It was named the winner of the Orchestral category and the Disc of the Year for the BBC Music Magazine Awards.

Discography

Ballets

Operas

Orchestral Works

Orchestral Works with Soloists

Vocal Works

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:
  • Benvenuto Cellini, Burkhard Fritz (Benvenuto Cellini), Maija Kovalevska (Teresa), Laurent Naouri (Fieramosca), Kate Aldrich (Ascanio), Xavier Mas (Francesco), Brindley Sherratt (Balducci), Roberto Tagliavini (Bernardino), Adam Plachetka (Pompeo), Sung-Keun Park (Innkeeper), Mikhail Petrenko (Pope Clement VII), 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.

Awards and Honors

Valery Gergiev has received many important awards for his work in music. Some of these include:

• Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation – This is a high honor given for special service to the country.
• Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" – Another significant Russian award.

See also

In Spanish: Valeri Guérguiyev para niños

• Ballerina (documentary)