Mariinsky Theatre returns to China for annual arts festival

Each year since 2007, he has been bringing the theater's programs to the NCPA, usually devoted to a big-name composer, such as Tchaikovsky, Chostakovitch, Stravinsky or Rachmaninoff. In 2014, the NCPA and Mariinsky Theatre held their first coproduction of an opera, Eugene Onegin, which premiered at Mariinsky Theatre.

In Sept, 2018, The Dawns Here Are Quiet, an original opera production by the NCPA based on the novel of the same title by Russian writer, Boris Vasilyev, made its debut at Mariinsky Theatre, with artists from the orchestra and the Western Military District Ensemble performing together with Chinese singers of the NCPA.

On Dec 4, a Chinese dance drama, Confucius, based on the wisdom and life of the philosopher, will be performed by the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater at Mariinsky Theatre, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"I performed many times with Lang Lang and Yuja Wang. I have also worked with Chinese composers and singers. It is my top priority to facilitate the exchange between young Chinese and Russian musicians," says Gergiev, adding that he recently worked with two Chinese winners of the 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition: French horn player Zeng Yun, who took the gold medal and caused a sensation in the competition, and pianist An Tianxu who played along with the conductor in Nanjing on Nov 23.

Gergiev was appointed as music director of Mariinsky Theatre in 1988 at the age of 35, and in 1996 he became its artistic and general director, leading the orchestra and opera and ballet companies.

As one of the busiest musicians in the world, the conductor gives about 300 performances per year, "covering four, sometimes five, continents in a year".

"I always try to concentrate on a few things. That's why I stopped conducting too many orchestras and do not consider going back to every city I have visited," he says.

"The human race has brought us Shakespeare, Mozart and Dostoyevsky. As we continue on this path, I limit myself to those 25 composers, whose music is always with me."