May 4, 2009 - 20:25 AMT
Mariinski Symphonic Orchestra had its first performance in Yerevan
Mariinski Symphonic Orchestra had its first performance in Yerevan within the framework of Easter Concerts cycle. On the first concert day, the orchestra, under the guidance of Valeri Gergiev performed the works of Wagner, Tchaikovsky, and Maler's 5th symphony.

2nd concert day was Gergoev's birthday. On May 4, 5th fortepiano concert was performed by Rodion Shedrin Orchestra jointly with young pianist Denis Matsuev. The composer with his wife Maya Plisetskaya and RA President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the concert.

The concert also featured Alexander Harutyunyan's festive overture, Edward Mirzoyan's Symphony and Chaykovsky's symphony N 5.

In 1978, he became assistant conductor at the Kirov Opera, now the Mariinsky Opera, where he made his debut conducting Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace. He was chief conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra from 1981 until 1985 - the year he made his debut in the United Kingdom, along with pianist Evgeny Kissin, and violinists Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin, at The Lichfield Festival. In 1991, for the first time, Gergiev conducted a western European opera company with the Bavarian State Opera in a performance of Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Munich. From 1995 to 2008, Gergiev was principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.