“The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has named Vasily Petrenko as its new Music Director, starting with the 2021-2 season—which will incidentally be the orchestra’s 75th anniversary,” writes Martin Cullingford in Monday’s (7/2) Gramophone (U.K.). “The Russian conductor has also announced that he’ll step down as Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2021, bringing to a close a highly successful 15-year partnership…. Petrenko is also Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, a post he steps down from in 2020, at which point the RPO will official designate him Music Director Designate. He succeeds Charles Dutoit, who resigned in January this year. Petrenko made his RPO debut in 2016, conducting Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ symphony, returning to conduct Verdi’s Requiem last year. ‘I am delighted to become Music Director at this stage in the RPO’s history,’ said Petrenko. ‘The RPO has a very modern approach and a youthful energy which underpin its music-making. We want to attract new and, especially, young audiences, embrace digital technologies and structure exciting seasons in London which can then be toured nationally and internationally.’ ”
Posted July 5, 2018
