With his base in Saint Petersburg, Gergiev pursues a punishing schedule that puts him in front of the world's great orchestras. He champions Russian music, opera in particular, and with a highly idiosyncratic conducting style that draws playing of amazing power from his musicians. He has headed the LSO and given us a thrilling Rachmaninoff Second and some impressive Berlioz. With the Vienna Phil, his Tchaikovsky symphonies are white-hot and, with his Mariinsky orchestra, he's tackled Wagner's Ring and Shostakovich symphonies. Since 2015, Gergiev has been chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, upholding the orchestra’s reputation for first-class musicianship and its commitment to making music accessible to all. His tenure has produced plenty of superb music, including his inaugural concerts, which featured absorbing performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Bruckner’s “Romantic.”