The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra announces today the extension of Principal Conductor Vasily Petrenko's contract for another three years, a decision which will make him the second-longest serving Principal Conductor of the orchestra.
Petrenko, whose contract was due to end in summer 2015, assumed his position almost eight years ago, when he became the youngest ever Principal Conductor in the orchestra's history. His work with the RLPO has since won international acclaim, becoming particularly well-known for its interpretation of the symphonies of Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. In the course of Petrenko's tenure, the orchestra has also seen audience numbers increasing by 17% on average.
The Russian-born conductor will see the orchestra through its 175th anniversary in 2015 and the major refurbishment of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, which celebrates its 75th birthday next year. He also currently holds positions as the Principal Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Chief Conductor Designate of the Oslo Symphony, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in his birthplace St Petersburg, where his career began in the mid-1990's.
An advocate of cultural expansion in Liverpool, Petrenko has been awarded honorary degrees by three Liverpudlian universities, and frequently talks about his love for the city. Of the extension, he commented: "It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to stay ... as part of the Liverpool Philharmonic family. I am looking forward very much to continuing my relationship with our great orchestra, and also with our wonderful audiences whose commitment to our music-making, along with our many partners, we are always grateful for .. There is still so much that we can achieve together."
