‘Divide, misunderstanding between big countries is widening’ – Russian maestro Gergiev
The deep divide and misunderstanding between world powers is widening, said Russian maestro Valery Gergiev, urging leaders to drop their political agendas and look instead at what can bring the world together.
“The deep divide, total misunderstanding between big countries, leading powers of this world, is widening and widening. I am worried that this divide will continue,” Valery Gergiev told RT.
He said that the problem of misunderstanding between the countries may be solved if Americans, Europeans, Asians, Russians, Africans, Latin Americans drop their political agendas in order to “act together” on “humanely rich, culturally rich exchange.”
The Mariinsky Orchestra is about to start a tour of Asia, visiting China and Japan, where they will be giving almost daily performances.
“I think these performances are still very important, maybe even more important than before,” said Gergiev, citing the need to bring unity across the globe.
Gergiev’s comments came as he announced a concert in memory of the victims of a Russian plane crash which happened over the Sinai Peninsula back in 2015. All 224 people on board were killed in what was later determined to be a terrorist attack.
READ MORE: Praying for Palmyra: Russian maestro leads orchestra in ruins of ancient city
The concert will take place in the concert hall of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, November 5.
The plane crash “happened about one year ago. We are not talking about any political aspects. We just want people who lost their loved ones to feel a little bit comforted. There is nothing that can replace lives of dear ones lost in a plane crash.”
In May, Gergiev was among the first to offer support to the embattled city of Palmyra in Syria, which was devastated by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists during a 10-month occupation. The maestro led a unique performance in the city, which had been liberated by Syrian troops with Russian air support in March.
The symphony orchestra concert “Praying for Palmyra – Music revives ancient ruins” was played in the Roman Theater of Palmyra, one of the few sites still largely intact after Islamic State captured the city. The venue served as the main site for the annual Palmyra festival prior to the terrorists’ rampage in the region.
