Valery Gergiev has been appointed as general director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre, while continuing his roles as conductor, artistic director, and president of the Mariinsky Theater. The government issued the corresponding order through Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The government stated that Vladimir Urin had asked to step down from his position as Bolshoi Theatre director. The Bolshoi Theatre Ballet’s artistic director, Mahar Vaziev, continues his duties.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova introduced the new leader to Bolshoi staff.
The Bolshoi team expressed gratitude to Urin for his decade of service. Urin reflected that his ten years in the role brought him great happiness as reported by TASS.
In a meeting with Bolshoi personnel, Gergiev spoke about the importance of building relationships with colleagues and emphasized that it is crucial to work in Russia now rather than abroad. He expressed optimism that the upcoming seasons would be successful.
Gergiev commented on the current moment, noting that international invitations did occur with recent trips to China where performances were staged and a new hall opened in Beijing. He stressed that the focus must be on Russia and domestic work moving forward.
The first initiative as general director is the staged production of Modest Mussorgsky’s opera Khovanshchina, as reported by Forbes.
Gergiev will maintain his position as artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. At the same time, the merger of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres will not take place. Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres will operate as independent institutions, Golikova announced during a staff meeting.
The new leadership envisions opportunities for the two houses to exchange productions, share stage spaces, and collaborate on future projects.
A poster for the nearest Mariinsky production lists Valery Abisalovich as the conductor three to five times per week. The press service of the Mariinsky Theatre indicated that the maestro will quickly and effectively divide his attention between the two capitals.
Conductor and leader
Valery Gergiev stands as a globally renowned conductor and a leading figure in the St. Petersburg conducting tradition. Since 1996 he has served as permanent artistic director and chief director of the State Academic Mariinsky Theatre. His tenure has helped establish large thematic festivals as a standard and broaden the theatre’s repertoire across opera, ballet, and symphonic works.
During his leadership, the Mariinsky Theatre has grown into a major complex for performances and live concerts. A concert hall opened in 2006, followed by the second phase of the theatre, known as Mariinsky-2, in 2013. The Primorye stage in Vladivostok began in 2016 and a venue in Vladikavkaz was added in 2017. These milestones are noted in official materials from the theatre.
Gergiev has also driven initiatives including online concert broadcasts and the establishment of a recording studio. The theatre received the Mariinsky label in 2009. He has founded prestigious international festivals and has chaired the organizing committee of the Tchaikovsky International Competition since 2011.
Under his leadership the All-Russian Choral Ensemble was revived, with the Russian Children’s Choir performing at major venues across the country. Gergiev’s contributions to music and society have earned him several state prizes, the titles of People’s Artist of Russia and Honored Artist, and honors such as the Hero of Labor and various classes of the Order of Merit and the Alexander Nevsky order.
Urin’s “happy years” ended ahead of schedule
Vladimir Urin was named Bolshoi Theatre general director in July 2013. His contract was extended in 2017 and 2022, with an original term through 2027.
Prior to joining the Bolshoi, Urin led the Moscow Academic Music Theatre. He has also served on the Council for Culture and Arts under the President of Russia since 2018. For his contributions to Russian culture he received the Order of Honor and holds the title of Honored Artist.