Gergiev and the Mariinsky keep the Red Flag flying

By Mark Pullinger, 04 September 2017

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“barnstorming rendition full of steely trills, iron chords and little subtlety”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 3 September 2017

Prokofiev, Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, Op.74

Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 3 in E flat major, Op.75

Lutosławski, Variations on a theme by Paganini, for piano and orchestra

Lyadov, A musical snuffbox, Op. 32

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5 in D minor, Op.47

Lyadov, Baba-Yaga, Op.56

Denis Matsuev, Piano

Mariinsky Theatre Chorus

Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra

Valery Gergiev, Conductor

Miraculous Russians: Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky in Florence

Elena Luporini, 11th December

Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra call in at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino for a programme of Prokofiev, Bartók and Stravinsky... and Gergiev picks up the keys to the city too.

****1

Alexandre Kantorow wows with the Mariinsky Orchestra in Antwerp

Marc Haegeman, 15th October

Think of a poet irresistibly teasing your senses by his creative use of rhythm, his unpredictable style of speech and his unfailing imagination.

****1

In Rimsky's Kitezh, Gergiev eventually weaves some Russian magic

Mark Pullinger, 8th October

In Gergiev's late, late show, Mao Fujita impresses in Tchaikovsky, but episodes from Berlioz' Roméo et Juliette are given a Shakespearean speed read.

***11

Matvey Demin’s stellar UK debut flanked by an invigorated Gergiev

Young-Jin Hur, 7th October

Gergiev, Demin, and the Mariinsky Orchestra deliver a performance full of vitality, virtuosity, and determination.

****1

Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky bring a Russian programme to Lucerne

Edward Sava-Segal, 30th August

The very talented Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov is an artist whose musicality transcends the mere virtuosic prowess.

****1

An ideal troika at Cadogan Hall

Roy Westbrook, 4th March

Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra return to Cadogan Hall for the second of their Petipa/Tchaikovsky tributes.

****1

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Prom 68: Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky keep the Red Flag flying