Iranian-born maestro Rahbari returns to lead Russia’s Mariinsky Symphony
Celebrated Iranian-born conductor Ali Rahbari will once again take the baton at Russia’s storied Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra from November 1, the Mariinsky Theatre said, marking the start of his fifth artistic season as the venue’s permanent guest conductor.
Now in his 70s, Rahbari remains one of the few Middle Eastern maestros to hold a long-term post with a major Russian orchestra. His return underscores the Mariinsky’s commitment to keeping its stage open to international talent despite political headwinds, while for Rahbari, it extends a collaboration that began in 2021 under artistic director Valery Gergiev, IRNA reported.
During his two-week residency in St. Petersburg, Rahbari will lead two major programmes. On November 8, he will conduct Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, while the November 15 concert, billed as ‘Spanish Night,’ will feature works by Chabrier, Lalo, Ravel and Rimsky-Korsakov.
He will be joined by acclaimed Russian soloists Maxim Fedotov on violin and soprano Anastasia Kalagina, both regulars on the Mariinsky stage.
Rahbari, born in Tehran in 1948 and trained in Vienna, has conducted over 120 orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Czech Philharmonic and the Brussels Radio and Television Philharmonic. He was first invited to the Mariinsky in 2021 to conduct works by Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakov, and was soon after appointed its first permanent guest conductor.
Beyond the podium, Rahbari has used his Mariinsky tenure to introduce several Iranian artists to international audiences, including violinist Amin Ghaffari and opera singer Reza Fekri. Critics in Russia describe his interpretation as “deeply lyrical yet sharply disciplined,” a blend that has become a hallmark of his performances in St. Petersburg.