Since he burst onto the international music scene, Valery Gergiev has become one of the most sought after conductors in the world. Among his numerous international honors, he is the recipient of Russia's Dimitri Shostakovich Award, the Golden Mask Award, Musical America's Conductor of the Year and People's Artist Of Russia, the country's highest cultural award. In November 2005 Gergiev was awarded the Polar Music Prize of the Swedish Royal Acadamy of Music for his "unique, electrifying musicianship, which becomes ever richer with time and makes us re-examine our attitudes to a great tradition" Born in Moscow, Gergiev won the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition at age 23 and while still studying was invited to join the Kirov Theatre. By age 35, Gergiev was appointed Artistic Director of the Kirov Opera and in 1996 he was made Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre incorporating the Kirov Opera and Ballet companies. Since that time Gergiev has added Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Rotterdam Philharmonic to his vast array of international appointments. In 2005 he was appointed Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, an appointment he will take up from January 2007, and extended his roles with the Metropolitan Opera and Rotterdam Philharmonic through to 2008. In his spare time Gergiev directs a host of annual music festivals throughout Europe and undertakes a comprehensive schedule of recordings. Valery Gergiev's guest conducting engagements read like a star-studded list of the great orchestras of the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic and perhaps the greatest of them all, the Vienna Philharmonic where he made his debut in 1997. The Sydney Opera House performances with the Vienna Philharmonic will mark Valery Gergiev's Sydney debut following his concerts with the Kirov Orchestra of St Petersburg at the 2001 Melbourne International Festival of the Arts.

For the first time in history, the Vienna Philharmonic will tour Australia and perform under the baton of world-renowned conductor Valery Gergiev in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 27-30 September 2006. Gergiev is one of the finest conductors of our time and this rare coupling, in one of the world's most famous performing arts centres, presents a prestigious and unique experience for Australia. Mozart & Tchaikovsky – SOLD OUT Wednesday 27 September 8pm Friday 29 September 8pm Shostakovich & Brahms Thursday 28 September 8pm Saturday 30 September 8pm SCHUMANN Overture, Scherzo and Finale SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9 BRAHMS Symphony No. 4

 

Cat. No.: 476 9902
Barcode: 0028947699026
Label: Decca 2CD Slimline
Release Date: 20 May

VIENNA PHILHARMONIC | The Legacy of the Vienna Philharmonic

ARTISTS

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

TRACK LISTING

SCHUMANN: Overture: Manfred, Op. 115     
Zubin Mehta
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Carlos Kleiber
BRAHMS: 8 Hungarian Dances
Fritz Reiner
MOZART: Symphony No. 36 in C major, KV 425 'Linz'
István Kértesz
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Valéry Gergiev

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker) has long been regarded as one of the world's top orchestras - a reputation it has held for more than 150 years. Its legacy is rich - having performed under such conductors as Otto Nicolai (its founder), Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein, as well as the five conductors on this 2CD tribute.

The program for this CD reflects that of the Orchestra's, on their debut tour of Australia, adding one of the orchestras most vibrant recordings, that of eight Hungarian Dances by Brahms (under the baton of Fritz Reiner). These are now restored after a considerable absence from the Decca catalogue, as is the first release on CD of the Zubin Mehta recording of Schumann's Manfred Overture.

In the fascinating liner note, John Kehoe documents the orchestra's rich history and identifies what makes the performances on this CD so special.

MARKETING PLANS
Advertised on SBS-TV
Competition to win a trip for two to Vienna (tagged on TV and in the CD package)
Advertising in Limelight magazine
Advertising in Vienna Philharmonic concert program

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Cat. No.: 470 8412
Barcode: 0028947084129
Label: Philips 5CD
Release Date: Available now

VALERY GERGIEV | SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 4 - 9

ARTISTS

Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg,

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra,

Valery Gergiev

TRACK LISTING

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.4 in C minor, Op.43

Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47

Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.54
Symphony No.9 in E flat major, Op.70

Symphony No.7 in C major, Op.60 'Leningrad' (Kirov and Rotterdam forces)

Symphony No.8 in C minor, Op.65

Valery Gergiev's spectacular live recordings of Shostakovich's symphonies 4-9 The War Symphonies - 5CDs at a very special price.

Set to become the definitive modern interpretations of these great symphonies these discs are released as Valery Gergiev begins a complete cycle of Shostakovich Symphonies at London's Barbican which is already attracting a huge amount of press and media attention.

The Kirov orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre St.Petersburg and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra both feature in the performances.

Also released - the DVD release of the award winning film - Shostakovich against Stalin - in which the musical world of Russia in the 1930s is illustrated by the Kirov orchestra and Valery Gergiev.

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Cat. No.: 074 3117
Barcode: 0044007431177
Label: Philips DVD
Release Date: Now available

VALERY GERGIEV | Shostakovich Against Stalin: The War Symphonies

ARTISTS

Valery Gergiev
Netherlands Radio Philarmonic
Kirov Orchestra

TRACK LISTING

Music in the film includes:

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.4, 3rd movement (conclusion)
Symphony No.5, 1st movement
Symphony No.6, 2nd movement
Symphony No.7, 1st movement
Symphony No.8, 3rd movement
Symphony No.9, 1st movement
Shostakovich Wartime Radio Broadcast
Shostakovich Chronology

Winner international Emmy -- Best arts documentary

Winner Best performing arts program, Gemini awards

Winner Golden Prague award

'The War Symphonies is a documentary of great power and originality' Citation for the Film Of The Year Award , American Historical Association.

This DVD presents Larry Weinstein's award-winning film 'Shostakovich against Stalin', which tellingly examines the harrowing subject of Stalin's bloody purges and Shostakovich's musical response. Described by the composer as his 'tombstones', Symphonies 4 to 9 represented the composer's weapons against Stalin's tyranny, and remain powerful testimony to a great artist's struggle against oppression. Shot on location in St Petersburg and Moscow, the film brings together archive film, personal recollections from Shostakovich's family, friends and colleagues, and key extracts from the symphonies, performed by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, conducted by Valery Gergiev.

As a substantial bonus feature, the DVD includes complete movement extracts from all six symphonies, in the acclaimed performances recorded by Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra. They are featured on this disc in both DTS 5.1 surround sound and PCM stereo.

An additional bonus feature is the famous wartime radio broadcast given by Shostakovich himself, to introduce a performance of his Seventh Symphony, the 'Leningrad'.

The film feature, which is spoken in English and Russian, is subtitled on this DVD in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

DTS 5.1 Surround & PCM Stereo

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Cat. No.: 475 6315
Barcode: 0028947563150
Label: Philips 3CD
Release Date: Available Now

VALERY GERGIEV | TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphonies Nos. 4-6

ARTISTS

Weiner Philharmoniker
Valery Gergiev

TRACK LISTING

TCHAIKOVSKY : Symphony No.4 · Symphony No.5 · Symphony No.6

'Valéry Gergiev is the greatest conductor alive' Sunday Times (London)

'I think Tchaikovsky was always ready for immortality...and with his final three symphonies he secured his place in the pantheon of Great Composers [...] When recording live we go for energy, we go for excitement, and still - hopefully - we go for good musical quality.' Valery Gergiev

Tchaikovsky's 4th & 6th symphonies are released along with the 5th Symphony recorded live at the Salzburg festival, which has been an outstanding disc in the Philips catalogue for some years, becoming one of the best-selling discs in Maestro Gergiev's mighty discography.

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Cat. No.: 475 6718
Barcode: 002894756718
Label: Philips CD
Release Date: Available Now

VALERY GERGIEV | TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

ARTISTS

Vienna Philharmonic
Valéry Gergiev

TRACK LISTING

TCHAIKOVSKY : Symphony No.5

This recording of the 5th Symphony has been an outstanding part of the Philips catalogue for some years and has become one of the best-selling discs in Maestro Gergiev's mighty discography. The highly acclaimed recording was made live at the Salzburg Festival in July 1998 and is a glorious example of what can happen when a great conductor stands before a great orchestra.

It is now repackaged to be part of a series that will surely become the definitive versions of Tchaikovsky's much loved late symphonies.

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Cat. No.: 475 6937
Barcode: 0028947569374
Label: Philips CD/DVD
Release Date: Available Now

VALERY GERGIEV | SIR GEORG SOLTI
Wold Orchestra for Peace 10th Anniversary Release

ARTISTS

Andreas Kohn (Don Fernando)
Albert Dohmen (Don Pizzaro)
Evelyn Herlitzius (Leonore)
Stig Andersen (Florestan)
Hans Tschammer ((Rocco)
Ruth Ziesak (Marzelline)
Herbert Lippert (Jaquino)
World Orchestra for Peace
Valery Gergiev
Sir Georg Solti

CD TRACKLISTING
MENDELSSOHN: Scherzo (A Midsummer Night's Dream) (recorded Baden-Baden 1998)
2-4. DEBUSSY: La Mer (BBC Proms 2000)
5. STRAVINSKY: Petrushka (St.Petersburg, 2003)
First ever release

DVD TRACKLISTING
Sir Georg Solti in conversation & rehearsal (12.00)
ROSSINI: Overture (Guillaume Tell)
BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
BEETHOVEN: Finale Act III (Fidelio)

Celebrating the first 10 Years of The World Orchestra For Peace 1995 - 2005, this CD release coincides with the orchestra's 10th Anniversary Tour.

Valery Gergiev is the guest conductor for the Orchestra in their 10th Anniversary year recording. This release also includes a bonus DVD of the orchestra conducted by their founder Sir Georg Solti.

Sir Georg Solti formed The World Orchestra for Peace by bringing together 79 outstanding players from 45 of the world's greatest orchestras. The DVD shows Solti conducting the orchestra in their first ever concert (in 1995) - to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations. The concert took place in Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland. The DVD opens with a 12 minute film in which Sir Georg Solti explains the background to the enterprise and rehearses some key moments of the programme.

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Cat. No.: 475 7655
Barcode: 0028947576556
Label: Philips 4CD
Release Date: Available Now

VALERY GERGIEV | PROKOFIEV | The Complete Symphonies

ARTISTS

London Symphony Orchestra
Valéry Gergiev

TRACK LISTING

PROKOFIEV: Symphony No.1 (Classical) Op.25
Symphony No.4 (revised version) Op.112
Symphony No.2 Op.40
Symphony No.3 Op.44
Symphony No.4 (original version) Op.47
Symphony No.5 Op.100
Symphony No.6 Op.111
Symphony No.7 Op.131

Philips celebrates Valéry Gergiev's appointment as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra with this auspicious release of the complete symphonies of Prokofiev.

The 4 CD set contains all 7 symphonies with both the original and revised versions of Symphony No.4. The recordings were made during a critically acclaimed cycle of concerts at London's Barbican Hall in the summer of 2004.

'Valery Gergiev is a born Prokofiev interpreter, and in his series of concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra, playing all seven Prokofiev symphonies, he made the LSO sound like the ideal musicians for this repertoire.' The Guardian

'As with Furtwängler, Gergiev's method may be unconventional but his meaning is perfectly clear. So it was no surprise when the orchestra applauded him as loudly as we did.' The Independent

'The playing was staggering in its virtuosity.' The Guardian

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