Production selected for St Petersburg.

ONE of the world's leading conductors has hand-picked a Scottish Opera production to play at his theatre in St Petersburg.

Valery Gergiev, the Russian maestro who is renowned for his brooding presence at the lectern as well as his musical skills, combines his international career as a conductor with running the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg.

He has chosen a production by Scottish Opera, Lucia di Lammermoor, from 2007, to play at his theatre, beginning this Wednesday, with the operatic "superstar" Anna Netrebko singing the title role.

The production's sets, props, and costumes are now in Russia and Scottish Opera's staff producer, Daffyd Burne Jones, is on hand to instruct the theatre on recreating the work of the opera's original director, John Doyle.

Gergiev, who is also the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, decided to take the Scottish Opera production following a recommendation by advisors, and Scottish Opera will be paid a fee for the hire, recovering some of the cost of its first run, when it played in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stoke-on-Trent and Aberdeen.

Netrebko will play the lead role in her first since the birth of her first child in September.

Gergiev will personally conduct a number of approximately 25 performances scheduled to take place over the next 18 months.

Alex Reedijk, the general director of Scottish Opera, said: "We are extremely flattered that Valery Gergiev - with his fierce and unrivalled reputation - has picked our production of Lucia to present at the Mariinsky and that Anna Netrebko, one of the golden girls of opera, will perform in it.

"It's fantastic for both us and for the international cultural reputation of Scotland that a Scottish story - Walter Scott's Bride of Lammermoor - brought to life by a Scottish company and an award-winning Scottish director, will be performed by one of the best opera companies in the world.

"It's an exciting adventure for Scottish Opera."

Gergiev is one of the dominant cultural figures in Russia. Renowned in the music world for his conducting, he is also seen as a powerful figure in his country and is a close friend of Vladimir Putin, the Russian President.

He is also credited with re-establishing the Mariinsky Theatre as a major venue.

To capitalise on the new link between Scottish Opera and Russia, the Scottish Government has given Scottish Opera a grant to help explore and develop further cultural partnerships.

The company will use the grant to investigate the potential of shared productions, joint creative ventures and touring opportunities.

Linda Fabiani, the Scottish culture minister, said: "It is a mark of the tremendous talent being nurtured in Scotland that the world-renowned Mariinsky Opera is presenting a Scottish Opera production in St Petersburg.

"The Scottish Government has provided funding from our International Touring Fund, which will allow Scottish Opera to make the most of the opportunities presented, at the same time promoting Scotland to an international audience."