This month, Vasily Petrenko (‘a conductor of crisp technical assurance and interpretive depth’ – San Francisco Chronicle) makes his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Having worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras as guest conductor, Petrenko now looks forward to performing with the RPO: “It will be a great pleasure and a big honour for me. It’s the only big London Orchestra which I haven’t performed with yet.”

Now the Chief Conductor of three prestigious European orchestras (the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and – his most recent appointment – the European Union Youth Orchestra), Vasily Petrenko finds some time in his busy schedule to talk to Jessica Duchen about what Gustav Mahler means to him, and his debut in our upcoming performance of the composer’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony on Tuesday 22 March.

Watch the full conversation:

Mahler's Symphony No.2 (popularly known as his 'Resurrection' Symphony) proves to be one of the most magnificent symphonies of the late-nineteenth century, and of all time, with technically demanding part-writing for its huge orchestration in each of its five (not the usual four) movements. The epic work's orchestration includes a large mixed-voice chorus, soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists, double woodwind, ten horns, eight trumpets, four trombones, two harps, an organ and an expanded percussion section, all of which are employed with great sensitivity.

Joining Vasily Petrenko in his significant debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be soprano Ailish Tynan, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote and the 150 voices of the Philharmonia Chorus, also making it a momentous highlight of the RPO's 70th Anniversary Season.