Gergiev won't conduct Tuesday

[Alexandra]

Citing exhaustion and the demands of running the Maryinsky Theater in a difficult year that has included a warehouse fire and major renovation projects, Valery Gergiev, Artistic and General Director of the Maryinsky Theater, has cancelled his scheduled engagement with New York City Ballet to conduct the opening night of the Company’s Russian Music Festival on Tuesday, June 8.

For the all Balanchine program, Maestro Gergiev was scheduled to conduct the NYCB Orchestra in Stravinsky’s Firebird and Symphony in Three Movements. Those ballets will now be conducted by Maurice Kaplow (Firebird) and Andrea Quinn (Symphony in Three Movements). Balanchine’s Mozartiana will complete the program.

Last summer NYCB traveled to St. Petersburg to perform at the Maryinsky Theater’s White Nights Festival, for which Maestro Gergiev conducted Serenade and Symphony in Three Movements at the Company’s opening night performance. As part of NYCB’s arrangement to perform in St Petersburg, Maestro Gergiev planned to reciprocate by conducting at the New York State Theater during NYCB’s Balanchine Centennial season. “Although I am disappointed that I can not be there for the Balanchine Centennial, this is only a postponement and I will keep my promise and conduct for the New York City Ballet at some time in the future,” said Maestro Gergiev.

NYCB’s three-week Russian Music Festival will close the Company’s spring season tribute to Balanchine’s Vision, which will also include a world premiere by Boris Eifman on June 18, and performances by the Georgian State Dance Company on June 25, 26 and 27.