The government promised not to merge the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters will not merge. Previously, the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev was appointed the new general director of the Bolshoi for five years.

“I anticipate, probably, possible questions regarding the possible merger of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theaters. The Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters have existed and will continue to exist as independent legal entities,” said Ms. Golikova at the Bolshoi Theater at the presentation of its new general director (quote from “RIA News”).

The Deputy Prime Minister added that Valery Gergiev will combine the positions of artistic director and director of the Mariinsky Theater and general director of the Bolshoi Theater. Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin dismissed Vladimir Urin from the post of general director of the Bolshoi Theater.

“Vedomosti” reportedthat a joint directorate of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters is planned to be created by the end of the year. The idea of ​​a unified directorate was expressed by President Vladimir Putin in March 2022. Then he turned to Mr. Gergiev and recalled that they had discussed the option of a united directorate. The conductor supported the idea.

In March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed merging the directorates of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters. At the beginning of May 2023, Valery Gergiev, at a meeting with Vladimir Putin, announced his readiness for large-scale tasks, “a thorough analysis of the state of 20–30 theaters.”

More details in the text “Kommersant” “What is Valery Gergiev, who headed the Bolshoi Theater, famous for?”.

Petr Buzlaev