News and Press

There’s a palpable sense of excitement at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), shared by players and management alike. It stems from Vasily Petrenko’s appointment as Music Director and is set to build towards the start of his five-year contract in August 2021. The 42-year-old Russian, recently praised by the Berliner Morgenpost for his ‘fearless’ and ‘brilliant’ artistry, has a fund of ideas for developing his new orchestra, raising its status at home and overseas, and broadening the global audience for orchestral music. He’s destined to become Music Director Designate in August 2020, soon after finishing work as Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. The timeline for Petrenko’s arrival in post as RPO Music Director includes his departure as Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) in July 2021 and appointment as its Conductor Laureate.

• The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) appoints Vasily Petrenko as its new Music Director to lead the Orchestra into its next artistic chapter, strengthening its position as one of the world’s great orchestras in London, across the UK and internationally.

• Vasily Petrenko’s 2021 arrival will launch the RPO’s ambitious plans for its 75th Anniversary Season.

• Expansive role of Music Director recognises the artistic leadership he will bring to the Orchestra, both on and off the podium and within the communities the RPO serves.

Katerina Mina is the international prize-winning British spinto soprano, and guest soloist for our upcoming concert 'Last Night at the Derngate Proms'. Katerina’s passion for singing is evident in her new CD Album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Grzegorz Nowak. The CD entitled, Angel of Fire, features arias by Verdi, Giordano, Beethoven, Wagner, Cilea, Puccini, Hodel and Barber and can be purchased from the RPO website.