Conductor Vasily Petrenko to leave the RLPO
Vasily Petrenko has announced he is set to leave the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 41-year-old will depart Hope Street at the end of the 2020/21 season to take up the role of music director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.
He will become Conductor Laureate of the RLPO when he steps down after 15 years at the helm – making him the longest-serving Liverpool conductor in the history of the orchestra.
Petrenko said today: “I love Liverpool Philharmonic and all my colleagues, our audiences, donors, funders and supporters. It’s a great family which I’m proud to be part of. And I’m passionate about Liverpool, one of the greatest cities anywhere in the world.
“We’ve achieved so much and I’m looking forward very much to the next three years working together as one of the world’s great orchestras and the pride of Liverpool.
“By 2021, my family and I will have enjoyed 15 amazing years here and I’m proud to be one of the longest-serving conductors in the orchestra’s long and distinguished history. Now the time feels right for me to take on new challenges.
“I’m so honoured to be named as Conductor Laureate, and to maintain my links with Liverpool, of which our orchestra is the jewel in the crown.”
Vasily Petrenko (photos by Mark Mculty)
Petrenko joined the RLPO as Principal Conductor in 2006, and was given the title of Chief Conductor in 2009. His tenure at Hope Street has seen the RLPO garner many accolades at home and abroad.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic chief executive Michael Eakin said: “To have retained one of the world’s most in-demand conductors for 15 years is a great testament to the orchestra and to Liverpool, but it’s right that Vasily should seek new opportunities and challenges to further develop his position as one of the world’s great musicians.
“We wish him well with his new appointment and future career.”
Petrenko will remain at the Phil for the next three seasons. His next concert is this Thursday when the orchestra performs Elgar, Ravel and Bartok.