On the evening of October 18th, Maestro Valery Gergiev, alongside the world-class Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra, marked their debut in Southwest China in Kunming.

This concert not only presented Kunming with an authentic Russian symphonic feast, but also through meticulously prepared "Kunming exclusive" repertoire, showcased the international ensemble's sincerity in respecting and exploring integration with local culture.

Performance venue of the Kunming Concert of Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. File photo

Maestro's Perspective: Hoping for More Young People to Embrace Classical Music

Russian conductor Maestro Valery Gergiev was interviewed by media. Photo taken by reporter Xue Rou

"First of all, I am very happy to be here. Thank you all very much. The city and the theater are both very beautiful," Gergiev expressed his admiration for Kunming and its performance venue during a media interview. Regarding his trip, he also shared his experience of traveling by train through several cities, finding the scenery along the way deeply impressive.

His previous aspiration for this Southwest China premiere – "successful and perfect" – was fully realized that evening amidst sustained applause and cheers. He particularly commented on his observations of the Chinese audience: "During this visit, there were many musicians and music lovers present. I hope to attract more young audiences into the theater in the future." He stated that the orchestra holds two to three concerts annually, with the core objective being to engage more young people into the world of classical music.

Citing the Shanghai concert as an example, he noted that there were "a great number of young people" in attendance, which left a deep impression on him. He emphasized the criticality of attracting a young audience: "If we cannot win the favor of young audiences, how can concerts continue from the first performance to the hundredth? I would very much like to visit Kunming again to present brilliant performances for more Kunming citizens, especially young audiences."

Russian conductor maestro Valery Gergiev was interviewed by media. Photo taken by reporter Xue Rou

Reflecting on his connections with China, Gergiev stated that it has been nearly 30 years since his first performance in China in 1998. Although he has performed in Beijing and Shanghai multiple times, this marks his first appearance in Southwest China. "I am very grateful for the attention given to this concert. I wish to present a wonderful, perfect, and enjoyable performance with my utmost enthusiasm."

When asked if he would consider performing musical works that integrate the multi-ethnic cultures of Yunnan, Gergiev gave an affirmative reply: "Certainly, I will attempt to rehearse and perform some works based on Yunnan's ethnic minority themes later." This demonstrates the world-class conductor's open attitude towards incorporating local cultural characteristics and his vision for integrating them into future artistic plans.

Peak Performance: A Fusion of Russian Classics and Kunming's Exclusive Surprises

During the concert, Gergiev, with his signature passion and precision, led the orchestra in delivering an authentic Russian symphonic feast to the Kunming audience. From Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" to Rimsky-Korsakov's exotic and brilliantly virtuosic "Scheherazade", and then to Ravel's highly recognizable and dynamic "Bolero", the orchestra showcased its exquisite artistic level and extraordinary expressive power.

Performance venue of the Kunming Concert of Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. File photo

However, what truly elevated the atmosphere of the evening to an emotional climax was a surprise encore specially prepared by the orchestra for the Kunming stop: The "Dance of the Golden Snake " by People's Musician Nie Er. When this melody, imbued with deep ties to Yunnan, was performed by a world-class orchestra, it stirred a profound resonance that transcended cultural boundaries. This thoughtful arrangement was considered the highlight of the performance's localization, further allowing the audience to feel the warm connection between international art and local culture.

Performance venue of the Kunming Concert of Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. File photo

Cultural Impact: Enhancing the "Spring City's" Artistic Visibility

According to the Kunming Theater, to complement the introduction of this high-caliber performance resource, four previous public lectures titled "Mariinsky's Kunming Visit" were systematically organized. Through a combination of online and offline engagement, these lectures reached approximately 320,000 person-times. This "high-end performance + arts popularization" combination not only laid a foundation for citizens to understand and appreciate the concert but also effectively amplified the comprehensive benefits of this cultural event.

The successful host of this concert marks a significant milestone in Kunming's urban cultural development. By attracting world-leading artistic ensembles like the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra, coordinating with prior arts popularization activities, and implementing thoughtful localized designs, Kunming is progressively building a more attractive cultural and artistic ecosystem, providing solid support for its urban positioning as a "Regional International Center for Cultural and Artistic Exchange."

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Jennifer, Alice)