The artistic director of Mariinsky Theater, Valeriy Gergiev became a holder of the French Order of Arts and Literature (L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres). As Mariinsky Theater press services communicated, this high award was given to Valeriy Gergiev in Paris, at the end of Mariinsky Theater tour on the stage of Châtelet Theater within the program of “Russian Seasons” in Paris.

The Order of Arts and Literature is awarded to those who especially contributed to the development of arts in France and in the world. The Order has three degrees: holder, office and commander. The last, and highest degree of this Order is rarely awarded. Among the holders of this Order of the Arts and Literature are the conductors Mstislav Rostropovich and Yuri Bashmet, the opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya, write Alexander Solzhenitsyn, USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev, et al. The highest degree of this Order was awarded to the Director of Theater na Taganke, Yuri Lyubimov. He became the first commander of the French Order of Arts and Literature.

“Russian Seasons” in Paris started in Châtelet Theater on January 22. This is a revitalization of traditions, whose initiator at the beginning of XX century became Sergey Dyagilev, and which weren’t supported for many years. The first “Dyagilev’s Russian Season” was opened in 1906. During many years, Dyagilev presented Russian painting, music and ballet. On May 19, 1906 the Châtelet Theater held the first festival of Russian ballet. This year, this large-scale event was inaugurated by “Demon” opera, staged by Lev Dodin, music by Anton Rubinstein. The orchestra was conducted by Valeriy Gergiev. In addition, on January 24 on French stage was featured the joint production Mariinsky and Châtelet Theaters, Evgeny Onegin opera (music by Petr Chaykovsky).

News source: www.300online.ru
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