Starry, starry nights

The St. Petersburg (Russia) Times reports today on the upcoming 14th International "Stars Of The White Nights" Festival opening Wednesday at the Mariinsky Theater.

Established and run by the Mariinsky’s indefatiguable artistic director Valery Gergiev, this annual event has become Russia’s premiere classical music event and assembles some of the world’s greatest musicians for 70 days of distinguished classical music.

During its history, the event has successfully become a window to the world of opera and ballet for a loyal audience of local music fans, as well as a draw for visitors to St. Petersburg.

...Shostakovich, who would have reached the age of 100 this autumn, will be featured in a special project.

The Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra will perform all of the composer’s symphonies over the course of the festival. Gergiev conducts Symphony No. 11 on May 30, while Symphonies No. 3 and No. 13 will be performed on June 5. German conductor Christoph Eschenbach conducts Symphony No. 5 on June 3.

More Shostakovich can be heard on June 29, when Paavo Jarvi will conduct the Mariinsky orchestra in a performance of Symphony No. 10....