Valery Abisalovich Gergiev, PAR (Russian: Валерий Абисалович Гергиев; Russian pronunciation: [vɐˈlʲerʲɪj ɐbʲɪˈsaləvʲɪtɕ ˈɡʲɛrɡʲɪɪf]; Ossetian: Гергиты Абисалы фырт Валери, Gergity Abisaly Fyrt Valeri; born 2 May 1953) is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic and artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. ... (see more)