On November 18, the Conference Hall of the EUSP proudly hosted the lecture of Valery Gergiev, the general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. Maestro Gergiev elaborated on his perspective on the future of St. Petersburg as the world capital of culture paying particular attention to the role of traditional art in the modern context, pointing at the importance and necessity to create various cultural sites not only in big cities but in the remote regions as well. After the lecture Mr. Gergiev answered the questions from the students, graduates, professors and guests of the University who were interested in various activities of the Mariinsky Theatre – not only different cultural projects but also the construction of the new theater scene and the question of the relationships between society and culture in general.