He will conduct the ballet's orchestra, take part in educational events and serve a variety of other functions.
The choreography's changing textures are obviously impelled by the score, which received its first New York performances at the New York State Theater when Mr. Adams conducted the ballet's premiere on Thursday night and at a preview on Wednesday.
Mr. Gergiev has probably conducted this score more often in the ballet house of the Mariinsky Theater than in concert halls around the world.
After just over two years on active service he was released from military duties after Diaghilev prevailed on the French government to second Monteux to conduct the Ballets Russes on a North American tour.
"Conducting for ballet is one of the most exciting, wonderful things in the world," he said.
Also being shown at Sadler's Wells in September is a new commission from former Ballet Frankfurt dancer Emily Molnar, and three shorter new works by Wheeldon, who will be conducting a ballet workshop for the public.
This year's tour, June 19 to 30, includes six performances in the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theater, with Valery Gergiev conducting, including a ballet gala; works by Shostakovich; Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov"; Rimsky-Korsakov's "Snow Maiden"; Glinka's "Life for the Tsar" and private concerts in the Yusupov Palace and Rimsky-Korsakov and Chaliapin Apartments.
Nonetheless he occasionally conducted ballet performances, and even in his concert performances of the ballet scores he had conducted for Diaghilev he said he always had the dancers in his mind's eye.
In 1950 he was named conductor of the newly formed Chelsea Opera Group, a semiprofessional outfit; in 1952 he conducted ballet at the Royal Festival Hall; in 1957 he received his first professional appointment, as assistant conductor of the BBC Scottish Orchestra in Glasgow.
Here he conducted the complete ballet in a reading that struck a fine balance between the score's necessarily episodic nature and its grand, painterly sweep.
