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Interview with Valery Gergiev of the Kirov

rebuilding a cultural institution
by Mikhail Fikhtengolts for The St Petersburgh Times

The Mariinsky Theater's recently concluded season was played out to the accompaniment of a stormy dispute over the planned reconstruction of the theater's main building.

U.S. deconstructionist architect Eric Owen Moss' design for the new building has drawn vicious criticism since its adoption by the State Construction Committee, Gosstroi.

Mariinsky Artistic Director Valery Gergiev favors Moss' design over what he sees as a more conservative design by a group of Russian architects, headed by St. Petersburg's Oleg Romanov. In addition, Gergiev says, having Moss' name attached to the project would make it easier to attract international sponsorship for the project.

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<small>[ 09-06-2002, 02:18: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Earlier this year I read a book about Valery Gergiev and the Kirov - both opera and ballet. I do recommend it - here it is at Amazon.com:

Valery Gergiev and the Kirov: A Story of Survival

Interesting article. To help put things in perspective, here were some threads in the Managing Dance forum:

The Kirov's Management

A new theatre for The Kirov

Kirov orchestra in US dispute