Valery Gergiev, General Director of Bolshoi Theatre, Artistic and General Director of Mariinsky Theatre: "We find opportunity to expand creative ties and cultural exchanges with BRICS countries"

The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026. The anniversary programme features gala concerts, exhibitions, and premieres. Over the past few years, the theatre's repertoire has been significantly enriched with about 50 opera and ballet titles. We spoke with Valery Gergiev, the General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, about the ambitious goals the management is trying to achieve.

How is the integration of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres' repertoires being implemented? How are the opportunities for participants in the International Tchaikovsky Competition expanding? How many spectators can the auditoriums of the Mariinsky Theatre accommodate simultaneously? What are the prospects for cooperation between the two main Russian theatres and the BRICS+ countries? What does music mean to the CEO of the Bolshoi?

Valery Gergiev, the General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, shared his insights on this topic in our BRICSterview.

TV BRICS reporter: Maria Neustroeva