Around the Music Festival

In October, the Mariinsky Orchestra, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and led by Valery Gergiev, will perform a complete cycle of Shostakovich’s symphonies in Shanghai. This major event serves a dual purpose: commemorating the 120th anniversary of the composer’s birth and marking the grand opening of the Shanghai Grand Opera House.

The venue, the Shanghai Grand Opera House, is set to open in October. Known as the “Chinese Fan” because it resembles a massive white fan when viewed from above, it is one of the world’s largest arts centers; the facility houses the 2,000-seat “Harmony Hall”, the 1,200-seat “Soar Theater”, the 1,000-seat “Open Stage”, and the “Grand Atelier”—a space dedicated to arts education.

This marks the first time in history that all 15 symphonies will be performed in China; the concert series also includes two piano concertos. The performances run from October 22 to 28, featuring Symphonies No. 1, 9, and 15 on the 22nd; No. 4 on the 23rd; No. 7 on the 24th; No. 14, 15, 6, and 10 on the 25th; No. 12 and 11 on the 26th; No. 8 on the 27th; and concluding with No. 2, 13, and 3 on the 28th. While the pianist for the concertos has not yet been announced, Piano Concerto No. 1 is scheduled for the 23rd and No. 2 for the 27th.

Gergiev now serves as the artistic director of both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres, wielding the greatest political influence in the Russian music world. He also performed a complete cycle of Mahler’s symphonies with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in Shanghai last year.

PHOTO：London Symphony Orchestra