The renowned Ossetian-born Russian conductor Valery Gergiev returns to South Ossetia to bring a message of peace and support to his homeland. He's giving a concert in the open air market in the centre of Tskhinvali, a city heavily damaged during the intense fighting.
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Gergiev was born in Moscow of Ossetian parents and grew up in Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Russian province of North Ossetia.
He is chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and is also artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. They are the musicians who will be taking the stage tonight.
The conductor says his decision to stage a concert was motivated by a wish to bring people together, to bring about reconciliation. Last year he spoke to Radio Netherlands Worldwide about the power of music in the face of conflict:
"The world needs this peace and musicians can make these kind of statements. They can also be a very good example for many politicians, the people who are responsible.... Peace is exactly what everyone believes in. If we think of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, or especially if we think of our children." Nevertheless, he does not try to hide his national loyalty in the face of this conflict:
"One thing I do know. When a thousand or 12 hundred people are killed, many of them peacefully asleep in their beds, the world cannot shut its eyes to the fact."Jan Raes is director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra where Gergiev conducted for 13 years. The works which will be heard on Thursday evening are Shostakovitch's seventh symphony and Tchaikovksy's sixth. What makes this appropriate music to perform in the midst of the Georgia conflict and will anyone be listening?
Jan Raes:
"Shostakovitch's seventh is a really symbolic piece to bring people some hope. And the Tchaikovsky is for many people in the world, especially in Russia maybe, a sort of farewell piece. It's about death, it's the last symphony of Tchaikovsky... and everybody knows this slow movement. And it has some religious power maybe for these people... to bring people together when they are suffering."Music and politics is a notoriously dangerous mix. And Gergiev is known for his pro-Russian views. He's a friend of Vladimir Putin, after all. Aren't people bound to question his motives?
Jan Raes:
"He is a great musician and, of course, with all his connections, he will bring people together. I think that's his main goal. But his first reaction is very emotional because he grew up in this region.... Gergiev is speaking with his wife and children Ossetian and not Russian. So it's very close for him - emotionally - and I think it's maybe for him very important to create some bridges and to be an ambassador for empathy."
Music is meant to be a healing thing, a peaceful thing, so when someone is so closely involved with the crisis and has strong personal viewpoints, can the orchestra play there on a neutral basis?
Jan Raes:
"No, I think it's impossible to be neutral, it's impossible to be objective, it's always emotional. Everybody has his history. But it's not the first time Russians use music on these difficult moments. I think Gergiev and many colleagues are adult enough to know it's not the real solution for all these incredible problems."
Tags: Jan Raes, London Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, South Ossetia, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Putin