Vassily PETRENKO, Conductor

Vasili PETRENKO is the youngest person and the first Russian in the 165-year history of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic to have been appointed Principal Conductor. Born in St Petersburg in 1976, he is recognised as one of the exceptional musicians of his generation. Petrenko was still in his teens when he became resident conductor at St Petersburg Opera and Ballet Theatre, and has gone on to work with some of the world’s finest orchestras, earning international acclaim – and top prizes – for his inspirational performances.
His Liverpool debut with the Phil in November 2004, and subsequent appearances in October and December 2005, created huge excitement. “...memorable for the sheer electricity emanating from the podium. Instantly there was a sense of dialogue between conductor and musicians,between one orchestral family and another, between one phrase and the next,to release natural-seeming eloquence from his players.” The Daily Telegraph
“I’ve got a very broad repertoire,” says Petrenko. “I define classical music as more than 50 years old so you could say that the Beatles is nearly classical music!”
On the Phil’s plans for 2008, he adds:
“The Liverpool Phil is a fantastic orchestra. There is a great opportunity in the next two years to celebrate our musical heritage,to commission new music and to invite the world’s great artists and ensembles to work with us. Sir Simon Rattle and Vladimir Ashkenazy we know already will work with us. It’s a very exciting time for the orchestra – the spotlight is on us.”
“Music is an international language, and, for me,a force of positive energy which really can bring joy and excitement to people.”