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Article: Fiery angel.(Valery Gergiev of the Kirov)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- March 20, 1999
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Valery Gergiev fought red tape, political chaos and financial upheaval to make the Kirov a world-class company. But he needs help
MOST orchestras, when they go on foreign tours, offer no more than three or four programmes, already so well honed that pre-performance rehearsals amount to nothing more than a little light polishing-setting up music stands and checking the acoustics. Not so the Kirov.
When the orchestra and chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet, to give the Kirov its proper name, last visited the United States from its base in St Petersburg, it gave 11 concerts in 14 days, repeating only one programme and half of another. Its ...