Valery Gergiev: Foreign orchestra invited to Russia

The Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres are planning to open their stages to performers from BRICS countries in 2025-2026, Valery Gergiev announced at the St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures. It has not yet been decided which venues will be chosen for these performances. "We will quickly determine the possibilities," Gergiev added.

Valery Gergiev also expressed support for increased creative exchange between the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres and China. "We will do everything possible to expand our ties, and we will ask our friends in the near future to help us recognize the best and most interesting aspects of the great Chinese traditions. The repertoire, literary and historical past, and literary richness, it seems to me, can influence the choices offered here in Russia," Gergiev said. He also highlighted the wide range of opportunities for performances by creative ensembles in China.

The Tenth St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures will continue until September 14, 2024. Over the years, this venue has become a key event in the cultural sphere, serving as a platform for dialogue on important issues related to the global cultural and humanitarian agenda. The forum's business program includes events dedicated to Russia's chairmanship of BRICS and CIS, a multilateral discussion on the prospects of international cultural cooperation, and thematic sections.