Photo: Nan Coulter We would like to pay tribute to writer John Ardoin, who sadly passed away in March 2001. His last book, published in Fall 2001 by Amadeus Press was dedicated to the Kirov orchestra and Valery Gergiev. John Ardoin spent a year in St Petersburg, attending Kirov performances, looking through mountains of archives and enjoying the unique atmosphere of the Kirov orchestra and the great imperial city. His book, which supplied a lot of this Website's content, a fascinating account of one of the world's greatest opera and ballet houses, and a vivid and honest portrait of Valery Gergiev. It provides an extraordinary insight into the Russian cultural life through the Czarist, soviet and contemporary eras. To purchase the book from Amadeus Press, click here. Friends of the Kirov Friends of the Kirov was founded in 1993 in Britain by Valery Gergiev to provide crucial support for the Kirov (Mariinsky) Companies and the maintenance of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Friends have presented the Kirov Opera in successful fund-raising performances in London, including two Royal Galas, Prince Igor in the Royal Albert Hall in 1995 and Boris Godunov at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1997, both in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. Outside London Friends of the Kirov have created opportunities for audiences in Glasgow, Belfast, Omagh and Birmingham to see performances by the Kirov Opera. www.mariinskyfriends.co.uk Official Mariinsky theatre site The latest information on the Mariinsky theater's programmes, new productions and various activities. www.mariinsky.ru Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre's PR representative in the USA is 21C Media Group, Inc For all US enquires, please contact; Lawrence Perelman, Director of Marketing & Special Projects, 21C Media Group, Inc., 162 West 56th Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10019, (212) 245 - 2110, ext. 204.