The Russian Economic Forum was proud to support
Beslan - A Concert for the Future
The Coliseum, London, 7 November 2004
Valery Gergiev, Orchestra and Soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre
The Russian Economic Forum was proud to support a very special performance on Sunday 7th November 2004 in London, by Valery Gergiev, Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre (Kirov Opera and Ballet) and the Orchestra of the Mariinsky. The concert, held at the London Coliseum (the home of the English National Opera) on St Martin's Lane, was presented by the Mariinsky Theatre Trust in memory of the tragedy in Beslan, North Ossetia. Gergiev himself is a native of Vladikavkaz, the neighbouring town to Beslan.
The funds raised from the concert were used to help and support the people of Beslan and North Ossetia. Funds were shared equally between the Beslan Lifeline Appeal (organised by the Charities Aid Foundation, registered UK charity 268369) and the Mariinsky Theatre's new cultural outreach programme in the Caucasus (supported by the Mariinsky Theatre Trust, registered UK charity 1010450).
Leading soloists associated with the Mariinsky joined the Maestro and the orchestra in the first half of the evening. The concert concluded with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6, The Pathetique, which ended in an eerie silence. In a very unusual gesture designed to ensure that nobody forget the reason for the concert, Gergiev asked that there be no applause at the end, but that people simply remember.
"This concert was part of our efforts to help Ossetian families - the people who survived those horrible days in Beslan. Our one idea is to support these people both immediately and in long-term cultural rehabilitation over the coming years. Every great name associated with the Mariinsky wanted to be there to unite with us and dedicate our performance to this idea".
Valery Gergiev, Artistic and General Director, Mariinsky Theatre.
