Gergiev: Maestro on A Mission

Coddling an Italian tenor fighting a cold. Teasing another half-hour out of an orchestra to rehearse it to its finest edge. Assuaging the fears of the governor's men about crowd control at an open-air concert by Placido Domingo. For some, it could be trying. But for Valery Gergiev, the super-maestro at the helm of St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theater, it's just another day at the office.

Gergiev is one of the most sought-after directors in the world. With his rugged flair, artistic zealotry and business acumen, he has evolved into that rare species: a classical music megastar. A son...

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