Montblanc de la Culture Awards 2011, Russia

Montblanc de la Culture Awards 2011 occurred for the first time in Moscow

On November 16th, Montblanc had the special honour of awarding the Russian Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award 2011 to Maestro Valery Gergiev. In the 20th anniversary year of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, Montblanc's International CEO Lutz Bethge attended the event in Moscow and recognised the tremendous enthusiasm and selfless generosity shown by the awardee.
 
Maestro Gergiev has been awarded for the 2011 Russian Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award as a mark of respect for his untiring support, his great versatility and passion. Maestro Gergiev is an artist of worldwide highest acclaim, a leading conductor, a builder of bridges between cultures, a wonderful person and a true patron of the arts.

Maestro Valery Gergiev is one of these gifted persons, who can bring people together with his art. He has established and directs such international festivals as the Gergiev Festival (the Netherlands), the Moscow Easter Festival and the Stars of the White Nights festival (St Petersburg), which Austria’s respected Festspiele Magazin listed as one of the world’s ten greatest festivals. In 2007, he also became the patron of a unique award: the “Montblanc New Voices Award” in honour of a talented young singer. The Maestro devotes much attention to programmes for children and young people and he has revived the practice of offering subscriptions for this audience group as well as gratis concerts for students.

In February 2010 the Academic Council of the St Petersburg State University elected Valery Gergiev Dean of the Faculty of Arts. For his services to music and to society, Valery Gergiev has been the recipient of numerous awards and prizes.  In 2009 Great Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Society named Valery Gergiev “Conductor of the Year”.  Maestro Gergiev is a true modern patron and an example to his country and the world.

The Gala Dinner took place at the Tretyakov Gallery where world famous pianist Denis Matsuev performed during the evening to congratulate the Maestro.