Symphony conductor is Russia’s wealthiest musician

According to Forbes magazine, the general and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev, received the highest income of any Russian musician last year, raking in a total of $16.5 million. For the first time, a symphony musician has turned out to be richer than pop stars. 

Experts at the Internet portal Bachtrack write that Gergiev is now the most sought-after conductor in the world. In a little under one year — between December 21, 2012 and November 29, 2013 — Gergiev will have led 211 concerts in Russia and abroad, according to his schedule.

However, Gergiev’s wealth ranking is a result not only of his high fees and frequent concerts; his creative work is supplemented by his 15-percent ownership of Yevrodon, Russia’s largest producer of turkey meat. Gergiev is also the president of the Finnish Black Sauna Society.

The Forbes top-20 list included only two other musicians from the world of classical music: violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet ($3 million) and pianist Denis Matsuev ($1.7 million). The 17 remaining musicians were pop stars.

Based on materials from NEWSru.com.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.