Valery Gergiev is the new honorary president of the Edinburgh International Festival. Gergiev brought the Kirov Opera to the festival in 1991, 1995 and 1997.

Renamed as the Mariinsky Opera, Gergiev’s company returned in 2008 and he has also conducted at the festival.

I can easily celebrate my 20 years with the Edinburgh International Festival, it is a wonderful place to visit.

We artists come here with a tremendous sense of responsibility and excitement.

I very much hope that the festival continues to thrive and flourish and I am very privileged to be part of its future.

via BBC News