Gergiev on the Plans of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres

The Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres are preparing a major project dedicated to the memory of composer Igor Stravinsky, announced Valery Gergiev, General Director of both theatres, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"We have an upcoming project dedicated to the memory of Igor Stravinsky, which will take place between Oranienbaum, about an hour's drive from the Mariinsky Theatre, and all the halls of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Stravinsky is a great Russian composer. Many people are aware of him, but not everyone," noted the conductor.

Gergiev also expressed concern over the construction of the Teatralnaya station on the Lakhtinsko-Pravoberezhnaya metro line, describing it as a severe blow to the Mariinsky Theatre. He emphasized that this is one of the country's two main theatres, which must not be "crippled."

"Unfortunately, it is now very difficult to claim that the historic building of the Mariinsky Theatre is in magnificent condition. It isn't. On one hand, repairs were long overdue, but the construction of the metro has dealt a severe blow to the theatre's state. Russia doesn't have many theatres like this: there are only two. We can build new ones, hundreds of them, but there will always be just these two. No one is allowed to cripple one of them," Gergiev emphasized.