Poster Valery Gergiev
Valery Gergiev, conductor
www.valery-gergiev.ru
Performance Today®

Gergiev's Toothpick

Valery Gergiev is one of the most dynamic conductors of our time: expressive face, penetrating eyes, dramatic gyrations and leaps on the podium. But he also likes to be very precise -- he generally conducts, not with a baton, but with a toothpick held between his right thumb and forefinger. Last month, Gergiev opened the new season with the London Symphony Orchestra by using a toothpick to conduct "Daphnis and Chloe" by Maurice Ravel.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Sergei Prokofiev: First movement from Symphony No.1 in D, Op.25 ("Classical")
The London Symphony Orchestra with conductor Valery Gergiev

Frederic Chopin: Etude No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 10 ("Torrent")
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Fort Worth, Texas

Maurice Ravel: Excerpts from "Daphnis and Chloe"
The London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductor Valery Gergiev
Barbican Hall, London, England

Hour 2

Pius Cheung: Etude No. 2 in C-sharp Minor
Pius Cheung, marimba
Ramsey Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia

Ottorino Respighi: "The Birth of Venus" from "Three Botticelli Pictures"
The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra with conductor JoAnn Falletta

Mike Garson: Gavotte ("Get-hot")
Violinist Andres Cardenes and pianist Alpin Hong
Strings Music Festival, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor JoAnn Falletta
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York

Levon Eroyan: Variations on an Anatolian Tune
Pianist Sahan Arzruni
Merkin Concert Hall, New York City

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

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