Russian Valery Gergiev is considered one of the world 's leading conductors . He holds three senior positions at the famed Mariinsky Theater in Russia . His first was as music director from 1985 to 1991, then he became chief conductor and artistic advisor for the Kirov Opera until his retirement in 2009. Recently , he 's been taking that car back to the music of his homeland , launching a worldwide tour in August of the complete cycle of symphonies from Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev at the Edinburgh International Festival . Gergiev conveys emotion to musicians , mainly through his facial expressions .
Russian Valery Gergiev is considered one of the world 's leading conductors . He holds three senior positions at the famed Mariinsky Theater in Russia . His first was as music director from 1985 to 1991, then he became chief conductor and artistic advisor for the Kirov Opera until his retirement in 2009. Gergiev conveys emotion to musicians , mainly through his facial expressions .