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Home , Mariinsky Theatre, Olga Borodina, Valery Gergiev

IN THE LONG SHADOW OF REVOLUTION Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov & Shostakovich

Mariinsky returns to the UK: BBC Proms – 3 September Cadogan Hall - 8 & 9 October Royal Welsh College of Music and Dance, - 10 October Belfast Festival – 11 October Symphony Hall, Birmingham - 12 October

’ is a born Prokofiev interpreter’ (Guardian)

The Mariinsky Orchestra returns to the UK for a series of concerts at the BBC Proms, Cadogan Hall, Birmingham and Belfast with music of Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich composed in the shadow of the Russian Revolution, now 100 years ago. At Cadogan Hall on 8 and 9 October, Valery Gergiev presents a programme in which he couples the music of Stravinsky with that of his teacher and mentor, Rimsky-Korsakov.

At Edinburgh Festival on 23 August, Valery Gergiev conducted the combined forces of the Mariinsky and RSNO in Shostakovich’s Symphony No 4 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the European premiere in 1961 at the festival. At the Proms on 3 September, Gergiev will conduct Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony alongside Prokofiev’s Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution. Both works were composed in 1937 but Prokofiev withheld the Cantata fearing official displeasure and it was never performed in his lifetime. The 10-movement cantata finally received its premiere in 1966. The Mariinsky is joined at their Prom Concert by pianist for Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Piano Concerto.

Last year, Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra celebrated the 125th anniversary of Prokofiev’s birth with what is likely to be the greatest concentration of Prokofiev’s works ever played within such a short span of time. This year for their annual residency at Cadogan Hall they shall be celebrating 135 years since the birth of with a programme of some of his greatest works, set against those by his mentor and friend, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

In 1902 Stravinsky showed some of his early pieces to the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (whose son Vladimir was a fellow law student), who was sufficiently impressed and agreed to take Stravinsky as a private pupil, while at the same time advising him not to enter the conservatory for conventional academic training. Rimsky-Korsakov tutored Stravinsky mainly in orchestration and acted as the budding composer’s mentor, discussing each new work and offering suggestions.

Both Cadogan Hall programmes end with key works linked to . Stravinsky’s sparkling score for was a huge success for Diaghilev and the Russes, whilst Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade was also adapted into a ballet in 1910 by choreographer Michael Fokine.

Following his success last year with both Prokofiev concerti, Baráti returns to perform with the Mariinsky for Stravinsky’s in D. This concerto was almost never written, as Stravinsky showed some reluctance to the commission, claiming he did not know the instrument well enough. He was soon convinced otherwise by fellow composer Paul Hindemith.

Violinist Kristóf Baráti is held in the highest esteem by conductors such as Dutoit, Saraste and Janowski, and he has performed with Gergiev and his Mariinsky Orchestra on numerous occasions. In 2012 he joined them for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and in 2015 for a concert including Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Saint-Saëns Introduction rondo capriccioso. Hailed as one of Hungary’s foremost artists, Baráti was awarded the prestigious Kossuth Prize in 2014 following in the footsteps of artists such as Iván Fischer and András Schiff.

On 10 October the Mariinsky Stradivarius Ensemble will give a concert of Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky in the Dora Stoutzker Hall of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Dance in Cardiff. This will be preceded by masterclasses with the students of the RWCMD who will also attend the rehearsal.

On 11 October Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra return to the Belfast International Festival in a concert supported by Titanic Belfast. The first half of the concert in the Ulster Hall is devoted to operatic works based on poems by Alexander Pushkin: the Waltz and Polonaise from and the Suite from The Tale of Tsar Saltan. These are followed by Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 The Year 1905, an almost film-like score that evokes the Mariinsky’s home city of city of St Petersburg and the events of Bloody Sunday in the 1905 Russian revolution. Shostakovich described this work as his “most Mussorgskian” symphony, reflecting on the suffering of the people and lamenting the fate of a whole generation.

In Birmingham, the Mariinsky Orchestra presents a programme including Rachmaninov’s last composition the Symphonic Dances, which echoes Rimsky Korsakov’s Golden Cockerel, the only score that Rachmaninov took out of when he left in 1917. The programme also includes Denis Matsuev performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2 for the first time in the UK. This concerto was originally written in 1913 but was lost in the Revolution and reconstructed by the composer in 1923 to be premiered in Paris.

"the Mariinsky is today enjoying some of its finest hours under Gergiev." Financial Times

the togetherness of the players is superb: when there’s a lilt, their music

sways as one; the ebb and flow is pin sharp, when they scurry, they are scurrying precisely in time. Bachtrack about performance of The Firebird by Stravinsky

"Throughout the evening it was of the highest standards in all departments, and it responded alertly to Gergiev's inspiring direction." Seen and Heard International about the Prokofiev Cycle

MARIINSKY TRUST UK

23 August - Edinburgh International Festival PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1 in D ‘Classical’ – Mariinsky Orchestra BRITTEN Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge - Royal Scottish National Orchestra SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 4 - Mariinsky & RSNO (70th anniversary of the European premiere of Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony in 1961 at EIF)

3 September - BBC Proms PROKOFIEV Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 3 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

Mariinsky Chorus and Orchestra Denis Matsuev, piano Valery Gergiev, conductor Supported by BP

8 October - Cadogan Hall, London RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Suite from Golden Cockerel STRAVINSKY Symphony in C RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor Supported by BP

9 October – Cadogan Hall, London STRAVINSKY Concerto in D (for string orchestra) RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Suite from The Tale of Tsar Saltan STRAVINSKY Violin Concerto in D STRAVINSKY Suite from Firebird (1945)

Mariinsky Orchestra Kristóf Baráti, violin Valery Gergiev, conductor Supported by BP

10 October - Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff Shostakovich Chamber Symphony Stravinsky Concerto in D Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings

Mariinsky Stradivarius Ensemble, Valery Gergiev, conductor

11 October 7.30pm - Belfast International Arts Festival - Ulster Hall TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz and Polonaise from Eugen Onegin RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Suite from The Tale of Tsar Saltan PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No 11 The Year 1905

Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor Supported by Titanic Belfast

12 October 7.30pm – Symphony Hall - Birmingham RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Suite from PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 RACHMANINOV Symphonic Dances Op.45

Mariinsky Orchestra Denis Matsuev, piano Valery Gergiev, conductor

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Valery Gergiev

Valery Gergiev became Music Director of the Mariinsky in 1988, when he was 35 years old. His tenure has brought universal acclaim to the already legendary by showcasing the talent of the Mariinsky , Orchestra, Ballet and Chorus in more than 45 countries. Maestro Gergiev has worked tirelessly to bring previously neglected parts of the Russian canon to the West, as an ambassador for early- and late-career works by Prokofiev such as and , which have since been welcomed into the standard repertoire. Throughout his career, Maestro Gergiev has helped young artists and developed rising talents, including world-renowned singers , , and Mikhail Petrenko, instrumentalists , , Leonidas Kavakos, , Denis Matsuev and and dancers , Yekaterina Kondaurova and . Most recently he served as Co-Chair of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition, which was lauded internationally for the high level of performance, judging and transparency that it set. Among the milestones of Maestro Gergiev’s leadership of the Mariinsky have been the inception of the ‘Stars of the White Nights’ Festival in 1993, the opening of the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre in 2006, the inauguration of the Mariinsky Label in 2009, and the opening of the new state-of-the-art opera house Mariinsky II in 2013.

About the Mariinsky Orchestra

The Mariinsky Orchestra enjoys a long and distinguished history as one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia. Founded in the 18th century and housed in St Petersburg’s famed Mariinsky Theatre since 1860, the Orchestra entered its “golden age” in the second half of the 19th-century under the musical direction of Eduard Napravnik, whose leadership for more than a half-century (1863-1916) secured its reputation as one of the finest in Europe. Legendary artists who conducted the Mariinsky Orchestra and praised its outstanding musicianship included Berlioz, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Nikisch and Rachmaninov.

About the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet

With a history dating back to 1783, the Mariinsky Opera has performed in the world’s most celebrated opera houses and has produced some of opera’s most important artists, including Fyodor Chaliapin, Sophia Preobrazhenskaya, and Anna Netrebko. Since its inception, the Mariinsky Opera, formerly known as the Kirov Opera, has placed an emphasis on by showcasing works from great Russian composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Today, the Opera blends the Russian canon with European and Romantic classics and works from vital contemporary composers.

Founded in the 18th century, the is recognized as one of the world’s leading companies. Most commonly known as the Kirov Ballet (its former Soviet name), the company has been home to many of the world’s most notable dancers, including , , and . The Mariinsky Ballet performs worldwide under Maestro Gergiev’s direction at cultural institutions such as Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts and the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in the United States, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the , Covent Garden, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, the Baltic Festival in Stockholm and the Salzburg Festival in Austria.

The Mariinsky Theatre Trust Chairman: Lady Solti

The Mariinsky Theatre Trust has been ground-breaking in the world of arts support organisations. Created in 1993 by Valery Gergiev, the Trust combines practical assistance for the Mariinsky Theatre’s work in Russia with active promotion of its most innovative programming in the UK. Over the last 20 years these performances have given audiences in this country a richer and deeper understanding of Russian culture. The Trust has presented the Mariinsky Opera, Ballet, Orchestra and Chorus in most of London's leading cultural venues including the Royal Opera House, London Coliseum, Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as well as major cultural centers throughout the UK. Last year's touring projects included a staged production of Berlioz’ epic opera at the Edinburgh International Festival and a 10 day tour to the UK including a revival of the Ring Cycle at Birmingham's Hippodrome, the UK premiere of Shchedrin's Levsha (The Lefthander) and several other concert performances at the Barbican Hall, London and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Support from BP

The Mariinsky is particularly grateful to BP for its six- year support of Mariinsky touring in the UK and for two important new opera productions in 2014, Les Troyens and War and Peace. This support has facilitated the tour of Les Troyens to the Edinburgh International Festival, the Mariinsky's Ring Cycle in Birmingham Hippodrome, the UK premiere of Shchedrin's opera Levsha (The Lefthander) at the Barbican, Mariinsky Ballet residencies at the Royal Opera House and regular company visits to the Barbican Centre, Wales Millennium Centre, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the Edinburgh International Festival and BBC Proms. This support builds on the strong relationship between BP Russia and the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg and forms part of BP's cultural programme in the UK. In 2017 BP is supporting the Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus performance at the BBC Proms and the two concerts in Cadogan Hall, London.

Support from Titanic Belfast

The Mariinsky is extremely grateful to Titanic Belfast for its generous support that has enabled the Mariinsky Orchestra and Valery Gerigev to return to the 2017 Belfast International Festival.

Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, located on the spot where the famous ship was designed and launched, was recently crowned the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction, beating off stiff competition from around the globe.

Described by as "an inspiring testament to the Titanic and the city that built it", Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end.

It is also a world-class event venue, having hosted over 1,500 business and leisure events. For more information, visit www.titanicbelfast.com "

http://www.mariinskytrust.org.uk

For more information, please contact:

Nicky Thomas Media 101 Bell Street, London NW1 6TL +44(0)20-7258 0909 [email protected] www.nickythomasmedia.com