Valery Abisal Gergiev. In honour of the Conductor’s jubilee

Abstract

The proposed material is related to the activities of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia (now the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia) - the period when its leader was the St. Petersburg conductor Valery Gergiev. From 1981 to 1985, he headed the orchestra, combining work with the Mariinsky Theater. This period went down in the history of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia as a time of new artistic and technical achievements of the orchestra, the expansion of its repertoire by including works
by Armenian composers, primarily modern ones, as well as attracting leading soloists from around the world to collaborate. The “Gergiev” period of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia marked the beginning of close cooperation between the conductor and Armenian performing musicians, which continued later. Some aspects of these creative ties are reflected in this publication. In particular, in the article “Gergiev and Armenia” by Svetlana Sarkisyan (“Arg” day ly, Yerevan, December 12, 1996). Of documentary value is the complete publication the programs of maestro Valery Gergiev concerts with the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia, giving an idea of the scale of the activities carried out. Gergiev’s creative collaboration with Armenian soloists received new range in the 21st century, already on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater and the concert venues of St. Petersburg. Gergiev’s constant contacts and initiatives with chamber choirs of Armenia were of particular importance. In this regard, the published material for the first time collects all the programs of the repeated performances of Armenian vocal groups within the framework of the annual
international «Moscow Easter Festival» organized by Valery Gergiev. In particular, this is the Municipal Chamber Choir under the direction of Harutyun Topikyan, the «Hover» State Chamber Choir under the direction ofSona Hovhannisyan, the «Geghard» vocal ensemble under the direction of Anahit Papayan, the «Speghani» Youth Choir under the direction of Sarina Avtandilyan.