Outstanding conductor Valery Gergiev is known to music lovers across the globe, but until recently few people were aware that he is a native Ossetian.

Following last summer's conflict, he gave a memorable and emotional concert in the ravaged South Ossetian capital, Tskhinval.

But not everyone was happy. After the concert he faced a flurry of criticism in the west for ‘supporting Russia's aggression’. But the conductor is convinced he did the right thing.

Valery Gergiev has been chief conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater since 1988. He has been responsible not only for many outstanding performances, but also for an ambitious reconstruction of the 300-year-old building – including the creation of a new 11,000-seat Mariinsky Hall. Besides his key role at the world-famous Russian theatre, Gergiev is also principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

He is known for his passionate style, which some call abrasive.

Gergiev believes that if politicians learnt to listen to each other – like actors and singers do on stage – they could be much more effective and avoid wars.

Despite his busy working schedule, he still finds time for his three children.

RT caught up with him in London, during rehearsals with the London Symphony Orchestra for Prokoviev’s “Romeo and Juliette”.