Friday 22 August 2008

The world must know the truth: Tskhinvali is new Stalingrad - Valery Gergiev

A Requiem Concert in Tskhinvali with Maestro Valery Gergiev, a True Son of the Ossetian People


Concert in tribute of war victims in S. Ossetia (part 1)

The principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev, has led a concert in Tskhinvali. The performance was staged next to the destroyed parliament building in the bombed-out capital of South Ossetia.

Watch the concert in full Part 1 and Part 2.

The world must know the truth: Tskhinvali is new Stalingrad - Gergiyev

TSKHINVALI. Aug 21 (Interfax) - Those who ordered an attack on South Ossetia hoped to escape punishment but they were wrong, the renowned conductor of the Mariinsky Theater orchestra Valery Gergiyev told some five thousand people who came to his outdoor concert in the central square in Tskhinvali on Thursday evening. The concert began at 8:00 p.m. local time.

"We are here today to express our admiration for you, to tell the whole world that we want it know the truth about the horrible events in Tskhinvali".

"You have suffered terrible bombings - direct annihilating fire on a sleeping city. The aggressors did this on the very eve of the Olympic Games, the biggest event for the whole of mankind, which is traditionally associated with peace across the globe," Gergiyev said."I want to stress once again: had it not been for great Russia's help, there would have been many more casualties among the Ossetian people," he said. "After the Beslan tragedy, the death of another 2,000 people is a terrible loss. I hope we will never go through such horrific trials again," Gergiev went on. "Those who hoped that their actions would pass unnoticed and unpunished proved wrong. More and more people in the world are learning the truth," he said.

"I think we may call Tskhinvali a hero city. What I saw today is another Stalingrad - total destruction," Gergiyev said.

"But believe me, an enormous country and all honest people of the world are behind you. Tskhinvali will be restored. New generations will come, and I hope they will see peace and prosperity on this land," he added.

The concert took place before the ruined building of the South Ossetian Parliament. The Mariisnky orchestra performed Dmitry Shostakovich's Seventh (Leningrad) Symphony and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony. Many people were holding candles in their hands.

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