On Monday 20 October Aman Tuleyev, the Governor of the Kemerovo Region, awarded maestro Gergiev the title of Hero of Kuzbass.
The award, which marks significant achievements and successes in concerts and educational activities, the careful revival of traditions and great personal contributions to the development, maintenance and promotion of classical music, was presented at the end of a charitable concert. That day the Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev performed twice in Kemerovo, with one of the concerts – which was free – aimed at children studying at music schools and their teachers from the region. Valery Gergiev underlined the fact that he considers performing for children to be a priority: “Opening a window, a door, or even better the great gates into the world of classical music for children is the number one task for us all.” During the children’s matinee concert the Mariinsky Theatre musicians presented the young audience with Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic tale Peter and the Wolf; many children also attended the second concert in the evening, though that programme was much more “serious”, including music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Verdi and Wagner.
The Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev first performed in Kemerovo in 2010. Less than one year ago, in December 2013, after a concert at the Kuzbass State Philharmonic the maestro was awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen of the Kemerovo Region” for his contribution to the development of the area’s cultural life.
| user_name | | Exit |
