Renowned Iranian conductor Ali Rahbari will open his sixth artistic season at the Mariinsky Theater on September 26. This landmark performance highlights his enduring creative partnership with the iconic St. Petersburg venue. Maestro Rahbari will lead the acclaimed Mariinsky Orchestra in a curated selection of global classical masterpieces. The opening-night program features major works from the German, Norwegian, and French compositional traditions.
The evening’s program will feature Siegfried Idyll, a symphonic poem for chamber orchestra by Richard Wagner. Audiences will also hear Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, originally composed for Henrik Ibsen’s play. Finally, Rahbari will conduct Hector Berlioz’s famous programmatic masterpiece, Symphonie fantastique.
Wagner revolutionized 19th-century music drama through his innovative concept of the total work of art. Meanwhile, Grieg integrated Norwegian folk themes into his orchestral music, helping establish a distinctive national cultural identity. Berlioz expanded traditional symphonic structures by incorporating dramatic storytelling elements into his large-scale orchestral compositions.
Artistic Director Valery Gergiev appointed the 78-year-old conductor as a permanent guest conductor following his acclaimed 2022 debut. Over five successful seasons, Rahbari has conducted 28 diverse programs, earning consistent praise from international critics. He regularly presents classic European masterpieces alongside celebrated orchestral works by contemporary and historic Iranian composers.
Rahbari began his musical training on the violin at the age of five in his native Iran. He later graduated from the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts with degrees in composition and conducting. Early career victories at prestigious international conducting competitions in France and Switzerland quickly established his global reputation.
Throughout his distinguished career, Rahbari has conducted more than 120 major orchestras around the world. He previously held leadership positions with the Czech Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, and Málaga Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, he directed the Belgian Radio and Television Orchestra for eight years during the 1990s.
In 1997, he established the Persian International Philharmonic Orchestra in Austria to bring together expatriate Iranian musicians. Additionally, Rahbari has produced more than 250 commercial recordings, with a particular focus on major Italian operatic works.
The upcoming concert reinforces the Mariinsky Theater’s ongoing commitment to international artistic collaboration. Strong subscription sales demonstrate continued public enthusiasm for Rahbari’s expressive interpretations and precise conducting technique. Theater administrators are also planning additional collaborative performances with Rahbari throughout the upcoming concert season.