Vasily Petrenko has announced he will continue as Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO) chief conductor for a further two seasons, concluding his tenure at the end of its centenary season. At that point he will have led the ensemble for seven years.
“We have two amazing seasons ahead of us and the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful orchestra’s centenary in style,” remarked the conductor. “I felt it was right for me to mark a new beginning at the end of the orchestra’s anniversary year, to make space in my schedule for more guest conducting opportunities and opera productions.”
The next dates for the Russian conductor and his orchestra are at Edinburgh Festival, where together they will perform Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and Prokofiev’s Symphony No 6. Petrenko and OPO will also complete their Strauss and Scriabin recording project for LAWO Classics. Finally, Petrenko will lead tours to Spain (January 2020) and the UK (March 2020) before stepping down.
Said OPO chief executive officer Ingrid Røynesdal: “We’re about to launch a mighty crescendo up to our centenary celebrations, starting next season, growing through the 2019-20 season, and leading us far into the future. Vasily will of course always remain a cherished member of the OPO family, and will return to work as a guest in the 2020-21 season and beyond.”
Concluded Petrenko: “I look back with pride on our five years together so far and on how we’ve broadened the OPO audience while building pioneering creative projects. And I look forward to the next two years, travelling towards the orchestra’s 100th birthday in September 2019 and the centenary season beyond.”
Aside from his OPO role, Petrenko is currently chief conductor at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, chief conductor of the European Union Youth Orchestra and principal guest conductor for the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia.