Munich Philharmonic sacks conductor Valery Gergiev over failure to denounce Putin
Move leaves classical star isolated after he was dropped by his management over his refusal to end support for ‘criminal regime’
February 2022
Denounce Putin or lose your job: Russian conductor Valery Gergiev given public ultimatum
Star conductor and close friend of Putin dropped by his management ahead of deadline to speak out or be fired from Munich Philharmonic
August 2021
RSNO/Gergiev review – all-Russian programme offers much to admire
In a socially distanced grand marquee, Valery Gergiev and the string players of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra were joined by pianist Steven Osborne
December 2018
Home listening
Home listening: a good week for Stravinsky
The RLPO and Petrenko dazzle in The Firebird, while the Mariinsky Orchestra and Gergiev make Petrushka their own
December 2017
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tale of Tsar Saltan CD review – fairytale shimmer from St Petersburg
October 2017
Osud/Trouble in Tahiti; Mariinsky Orchestra/ Gergiev – review
Bernstein and Janáček rarities make a terrific Opera North double bill. Plus, a welcome visit by Valery Gergiev
August 2017
Mariinsky O/RSNO/Gergiev review – Scotland meets Russia in thrilling display of discipline
George Harliono, 16-year-old piano virtuoso, to perform with Valery Gergiev
September 2016
Mariinsky Orchestra/Gergiev review – brute orchestral force
An all-Prokofiev programme celebrating his 125th anniversary didn’t do the composer many favours
July 2016
Munich PO/Gergiev at the Proms review – Ustvolskaya's powerful, profound symphonic scream
This rarely heard work by Soviet-era composer Galina Ustvolskaya is unusually scored and carries an almost physical charge, dominating the programme
April 2016
Mariinsky Orchestra/Gergiev review - charm and wolfish drama
Doing double duty as conductor and narrator, Valery Gergiev gave a resonant and dramatic account of Peter and the Wolf
October 2015
Mariinsky Orchestra/Gergiev review – Tchaikovsky competition winners show their strengths
The ability of the Russian school to produce idiomatic music distinct from western traditions is remarkable, as this tour clearly demonstrates
LSO/Gergiev review – a beguiling, superbly judged home farewell
Gergiev was on fine form for his final UK concert as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra
Music blog
Gergiev and the LSO: fond farewells or sighs of relief?
Andrew Clements
Valery Gergiev has not served the London Symphony Orchestra well as their chief conductor, nor has he lived up to the brilliance his earlier career promised
Daniil Trifonov, Sergei Babayan and Alexei Volodin’s treatments of all five works were fine individual achievements that made a less than ideal evening
May 2015
The London Symphony Orchestra's Trafalgar Square concert 2015: in pictures
On Sunday 17 May the London Symphony Orchestra performed in Trafalgar Square in the fourth of its annual open air concerts. Valery Gergiev conducted an all-Shostakovich programme, Nicola Benedetti also performed.
November 2014
Betrothal in a Monastery review – humour survives concert performance
Without staging, it wasn’t easy keeping track of the lovers in Prokofiev’s comic opera, but Gergiev’s cast and orchestra filled in at least some of the gaps, writes Rian Evans
September 2014
LSO/Gergiev/Matsuev review – high-speed vamping at a brutal gallop
Valery Gergiev’s ability to pace and sustain the long climaxes in Shostakovich’s symphonies remains exemplary, writes Erica Jeal
July 2014
Proms 1, 4, 9, 6; Chamber Music 1 review – celebrations, and doubt
The 120th season began in grand style with Elgar, but the World Orchestra for Peace sounded a note of uncertainty, writes Fiona Maddocks
June 2014
Soprano Karita Mattila: 'It's never too late for a debut'
Erica Jeal: At 53, the great soprano Karita Mattila can still take her pick of the big parts. She explains why she's raring to play one of opera's great monsters
