Rahbari to conduct leading composers works at Russia’s Mariinsky Theater
Iranian composer and conductor Ali Rahbari will take the stage at Russia’s Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg on September 25, opening his sixth artistic season at the historic opera house. Rahbari will conduct works by some of the world’s leading composers, including Wagner, Grieg and Berlioz, IRNA reported on Saturday.
Appointed “permanent guest conductor” of the Mariinsky Orchestra by Valery Gergiev, the legendary Russian conductor, Rahbari has won strong support from audiences and critics over his first five seasons, conducting 28 varied programs.
During that period, he has brought to the stage a wide range of major works from the Western classical repertoire as well as prominent Iranian compositions.
One of the highlights of his work at the Mariinsky has been his efforts to introduce Iranian musicians and music to international audiences.
Rahbari, a musician, composer and international orchestra conductor, was born in Tehran in 1948. He has previously served as permanent guest conductor of orchestras including the Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Belgrade Philharmonic.
Gergiev first invited him to the Mariinsky during the 2021-22 artistic season to conduct two works by renowned Russian composers. Following those performances, Rahbari was immediately appointed permanent guest conductor of the institution.