Gergiev, an ally of Putin, appointed to prominent positions at both Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres

Valery Gergiev, Russia's prominent conductor, has been appointed as the head of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, in addition to his current role at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Both theatres are renowned for their ballet, opera, and orchestras. Gergiev's appointment was made by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, replacing Vladimir Urin who stepped down voluntarily. Gergiev has been a vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin for many years, although his popularity in the West has declined. He was dismissed as the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic due to his support for Putin during the invasion of Ukraine, and he was also dropped from La Scala in Milan for failing to condemn the invasion strongly. Gergiev has faced severed ties with orchestras and festivals in Rotterdam, Vienna, and Edinburgh as a result. Since then, his performances have been limited to China. Recently, he led the Mariinsky's ballet, opera, and orchestra on a tour of Chinese cities. With this new role, Gergiev, who has been the artistic and general director of the Mariinsky since 1996, now faces the challenge of managing Russia's two biggest ballet and opera theatres. It is reported that Gergiev had been aspiring for the role at the Bolshoi for many years. His predecessor, Vladimir Urin, did not offer an explanation for stepping down after a decade in the position. However, Urin did admit that anti-war statements led to the removal of certain names from Bolshoi posters during the war in Ukraine. Gergiev has received multiple awards under President Putin, including the Order of Merit to the Fatherland this year. He led the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra in a performance at the ancient ruins of Palmyra, following Russian air strikes against ISIS in 2016. In a meeting with President Putin, he discussed the idea of merging the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres under one directorate, mentioning their rich musical traditions. However, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tatyana Golikova, denied any plans for a merger, stating that both theatres would continue to exist independently. Gergiev expressed his enthusiasm about the change, highlighting the potential for mutual performances and tours between the two theatres.