Commander of the Order of Leopold II

The award ceremony took place on 2 June at the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre immediately after a concert that opened the New Horizons festival of contemporary music. The grand celebration was attended by Marie-Johane Roccas, Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium in St Petersburg, Jo Haazen, Professor of the Faculty of Arts of the St Petersburg State University and Honorary Director of Belgium’s École Royal de Carillon, and Elisabeth Barsacq, Consul General of France. Maestro Gergiev, who was awarded the title of Commander, spoke in particular of the important contribution made by the whole of the Mariinsky Theatre in strengthening ties between Russia and Belgium.

This Belgian State award is presented to those serving in the armed forces as well as civilians, both Belgians and foreigners, for services to the monarch and as a symbol of his patronage. The Order is named after King Leopold II on whose initiative it was founded on 24 August 1900.