Vasily Petrenko Suspends All Russian Conducting Engagements

Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko has released a statement that condemns Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as "one of the greatest moral failures and humanitarian disasters of our century."

The 45-year-old, who is currently Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chief Conductor of the European Union Youth Orchestra, has made the decision to suspend all of his work in Russia until peace is restored.

The decision means that Petrenko will no longer take up any future engagements with the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, of which he was appointed Principal Conductor in 2021. The orchestra had previously been led by Vladimir Jurowski.

Petrenko is one of a number of Russian-born conductors, including Semyon Bychkov, who has spoken out against the invasion of Ukraine.

"The historic and cultural ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, of which I am proud, can never be used to justify Russia’s invasion," Petrenko wrote.

"I believe in the promotion of friendship and understanding across all boundaries. Peace must be restored as soon as possible," he concluded.

 

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A graduate of the St Petersburg Conservatoire, Vasily  Petrenko is the Conductor Laureate of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, following his fifteen-year tenure as their Chief Conductor. He has also served as Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and Principal Guest Conductor of St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre — the latter of which he began his career as Resident Conductor.