Summer 2025
At the Podium: Gavriel Heine
Gavriel Heine is one of the most dynamic and versatile conductors of his generation, with a career spanning opera, ballet, and symphonic repertoire. He has brought music to life on some of the world’s most revered stages, including 15 seasons as resident conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre. He currently serves as Music Director of Northern Lights Festival Opera. He has navigated political upheaval, pandemic shutdowns, and the demands of a global career while remaining deeply committed to the idea that great music belongs to us all.
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Your career has taken you to some of the world’s most prestigious venues, from Covent Garden to the Bolshoi Theatre. Is there a particular performance or venue that stands out?
Several different venues for different reasons!
- Mariinsky Theatre, 2007 – My debut conducting Le nozze di Figaro was my first time conducting a full opera anywhere. Having had minimal rehearsal with the cast, the moment the curtain rose, with full costumes, sets, and a packed house, I thought my heart would jump out of my chest!
- Bolshoi Theatre, 2011 – Conducting Bluebeard’s Castle – this one was a hard nut to crack. I worked very, very hard to prepare. Everything clicked, and we hit a home run. I was so full of adrenaline that I didn’t sleep the entire overnight train ride back to St. Petersburg.
- California Tour, 2015 – My first solo Mariinsky tour. Raymonda and Cinderella are two of my favorite ballet scores. There were great players in the pit and legendary dancers on stage. I was incredibly proud.
- Royal Opera House, 2022 –After leaving Russia post-invasion, I led a benefit performance of Swan Lake for Ukraine. The orchestra was on fire, and the atmosphere in the hall was bonkers-electric. The musicians stuck to me like glue and responded like a Ferrari when we hit the gas. That was one of the most emotional and exciting performances of my life!
Why are music education and outreach important to you?
Great music belongs to everyone — it’s essential nutrition for the soul. Exposing people to it, especially kids, opens doors to emotion, beauty, and human connection. Great music speaks across all cultures and boundaries. It’s nothing short of a miracle.
​​You faced unique challenges early in your career, including studying in Russia during the tumultuous August 1991 coup and the fall of the Soviet Union. How did those experiences shape your approach to music and life?
It was a tough environment for a 17-year-old American, but the musical training I received was unmatched. Russian pedagogy demands an extremely strong technical foundation, but that technique is meant to be used exclusively to make music speak expressively. I am forever grateful to my teachers, who prioritized vivid speech-like phrasing, internal meaning, mood, and imagery. That philosophy resonated deeply with me.
You conducted Tosca at Minnesota’s Northern Lights Music Festival in 2020 – first live opera performance in the U.S. after the COVID-19 shutdown. What did that moment mean to you and the musicians?
It was intense. We were starved for live music, and musicians flew in from all over the country to play in our orchestra. With six feet of distance between every musician, the orchestra seemingly stretched from Lisbon to Vladivostok. We prerecorded the chorus remotely with a click track, synced with the orchestra (for performance the chorus walked their parts, masked, and mute). It was a logistical feat — but no one got sick, and the performance reminded us how vital live music is.
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You're conducting Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky at Festival Napa Valley. What draws you to their music?
Russian romanticism first made me fall in love with classical music. I have a special relationship with Swan Lake. I know the score intimately, and when I think of the music, I “see” the dancers – which allows me to approach the score theatrically. I’m excited to perform it concert-style with the Pacific Symphony, without worrying if it’s too fast or slow for the dancers. I’m also thrilled to work with Tianxu An on Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto — he’s an absolutely fantastic pianist!
Food: A great steak and a proper Caesar salad (don’t skimp on the dressing).
Wine: An earthy California red Zin… though I wouldn’t say no to a 2015 Petrus.
Recently visited: Loved Crete. Fell for Paris while conducting at Opera Bastille. And Florence stole my heart.
Dream destination: Sardinia or the Seychelles.
Wish for the future: That reason and enlightenment prevail — and that governments don’t let the arts die on their watch.