Renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, ostracized from Western concert halls since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has been named the director of Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. This significant appointment places the 70-year-old maestro at the helm of Russia’s two pre-eminent opera and ballet houses, given his longstanding position as the head of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg since 1996.
Having performed for decades on the world’s most prestigious classical stages, Gergiev faced exclusion from Western cultural circles following the conflict’s onset. In March 2022, he was dismissed as the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra after Munich’s mayor criticized Gergiev for not unequivocally distancing himself from the invasion.
The Bolshoi Theatre, known for its grandeur and artistic grandiosity, has been embroiled in artistic intrigues and rivalries. Gergiev’s appointment follows the departure of his predecessor, Vladimir Urin, who served for over a decade. While the government announcement did not provide a reason for Urin’s departure, he was among 17 cultural figures who signed an open letter shortly after the invasion, calling for a cessation of military operations, troop withdrawal, and negotiations.
Gergiev, a former principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, has been a controversial figure internationally due to his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Notably, he endorsed Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and conducted a concert in Syria’s ancient Palmyra in 2016, addressing it via live video link with Putin, following its recapture from Islamic State forces.
In response to his new appointment, Gergiev acknowledged the significant responsibility, stating, “Today I am thinking about what we can do in Russia. Not because we’re not invited elsewhere – on the contrary, we’ve spent a lot of time lately in China – but now I, and we together, need to work at home.”
As Gergiev assumes leadership at the Bolshoi Theatre, the cultural world watches closely, considering the conductor’s past controversies and the geopolitical context surrounding his appointment.
