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Gergiev Speaks at Core Music Event
Renowned Russian conductor
Valery Gergiev spoke to a group
of Music Humanities students
and other members of the College
and University community at Miller
Theatre on October 7. The World Leaders
Forum event was sponsored by the Center
for the Core Curriculum, PricewaterhouseCoopers
and Miller Theatre.
Gergiev is the director of the Mariinsky
Theater in St. Petersburg, home to
the Kirov Opera and Ballet. Under his
leadership, the Kirov Opera has come to
be recognized as one of today’s great opera
companies. Gergiev is also principal
conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic
and principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan
Opera. He was in New York to
conduct the Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie
Hall’s Opening Night Gala.
Gergiev participated in an hour-long
discussion with Elaine Sisman, the Anne
Parsons Bender Professor of Music and
chair of Music Humanities, followed by a
question-and-answer session and a reception
at Faculty House. Students from Saint
Petersberg State University also took part
in the discussion via video conference.
Gergiev spoke of the emotional qualities
that draw audiences all over the world
to the music of Tchaikovsky and of the
emotional connections and happiness
people feel when they hear the powerful
voices and moving performances of opera
singers. He also answered questions
about getting along with opera directors,
conducting different genres such as symphony
and ballet, and pursuing a career
as a conductor. He said he did not understand
the concept of a “career” before he
had one, but that he knew he wanted to
be a conductor when he first heard a great
orchestra as a teenager.
“For me, being 18 years old, 19 years
old, it was a total shock to hear great
orchestra, great conductor for the first
time in a great hall … to hear great opera
and ballet performances,” he said. “So
my destiny was clear. I knew even then,
in 1972, that I will never change course. I
will go and become a conductor.
“You learn and learn, and suddenly
you have a career,” he added. “Because
I learned something, my destiny helped
me. At some point I was standing in front
of the Vienna Philharmonic saying good
morning.”
At Miller Theatre, Sisman said, Gergiev
was “in his element” surrounded by at-
Elaine Sisman, the Anne Parsons Bender Professor of Music and chair of Music Humanities,
hosted a one-hour discussion with noted Russian conductor Valery Gergiev for Music Humanities
students and others at Miller Theatre on October 7.
PHOTO: EILEEN BARROSO
tentive students. He asked many students
their names and interests when they asked
him a question. “He packed the house,
with many hundreds in the audience,
and it is clear that music excites him to his
core,” she said. “He is genuinely interested
in communicating with and encouraging
young people.”
The event was geared toward students
in Music Humanities, which has been a
required part of the Core since 1947. “Concert
and opera attendance is a rich part of
the Music Humanities experience,” said
Sisman, “so for students to hear such a
vivid musician and personality and to be
able to ask him questions is an exceptional
opportunity. He told wonderful stories
and revealed details about the ‘miracles’
that can happen in a concert hall.”
Sydney Schwartz Gross ’05J
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