Valery Gergiev

Valery Gergiev talks about a conductor's relationship to his orchestra

In a Hardtalk Extra programme broadcast on Friday 16th February, Razia Iqbal talks to one of the world's most in-demand conductors, Valery Gergiev.

Russians are playing an increasingly visible role in every

aspect of British cultural life, from football clubs to orchestras.

Valery Gergiev is part of this trend.

He has just become the new principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

From his new base at London's Barbican Centre, he tells Razia Iqbal about first falling in love with classical music while growing up in north Ossetia, and why he is proud to be an ambassador for Russian music today.

HARDtalk Extra can be seen on BBC World at 0330 GMT, 0830 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 1830 GMT.

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30.