Rotterdam concert to collect money for damaged Mariinsky Theatre

The Rotterdam philharmonic orchestra is to hold its concert here October 30, collecting money that will be used to restore the damaged Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The orchestra will be conducted by Valery Gergiyev. The Mariinsky Theatre was gutted by fire not so long ago. Gergiyev announced plans for holding this concert the other day, that is, after the Gergiyev festival wound up in Rotterdam.

The world-famous conductor said he was satisfied with prospects for aiding the Mariinsky Theatre, which is also headed by him. At the same time, Gergiyev noted that the theatre will receive federal appropriations, as well as Russian corporate donations.

Moreover, a number of foreign companies, including such big-league concerns as Philips, Shell, Unilever and Heineken, have voiced their readiness to help the stricken theatre, Gergiyev added.

The Mariinsky Theatre's workshops caught fire on September 5. Meanwhile Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoi estimates the losses incurred at 200-250 million roubles (Euro 6-7 million).