Tugan Sokhiev has been appointed the music director and chief conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre.
The Russian conductor, 36, will take up the helm at the Moscow institution straightaway, following in the footsteps of Vassily Sinaisky who resigned in December last year. Sokhiev, who will continue his work with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, has signed up for an initial four-year term at the Bolshoi.
'He is highly gifted musician,' says Vladimir Urin, general director of the Bolshoi Theatre. 'I was also struck by his willingness and passion to build a musical theatre according to his belief of what it should be today. As a result of our intensive discussions, I was delighted to conclude that despite our considerable age gap we share a similar vision.'
Sokhiev joins the Bolshoi at a troubled time in its history. Over the past year it has been beset by scandals including an acid attack by one of the company's dancers on the ballet's artistic director. Talking to Agence France Presse, music critic Pyotr Pospelov said: 'This is an impeccable choice that will improve the Bolshoi's image. Sokhiev is a professional who has an impeccable technique and a big soul.'
Picture credit: Patrice Nin
