Vasily Petrenko made his debut this month with the legendary Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, leading them in the pit of the Dutch National Opera for a widely acclaimed new production by Kirill Serebrennikov of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, in performances that marked the opening of this year’s Holland Festival:
“With the distinguished privilege of the Concertgebouw in pit, musical interpretation could only reach the heights. Vasily Petrenko commands at the podium, with a gesture that constantly expresses the sharpest dramatic intensity, without neglecting, on the contrary, to dig the score down to the smallest details.” – Mehdi Mahdavi, Diapason
“From the pit, where a wonderfully playing Concertgebouw Orchestra is seated, Petrenko fires things up mightily. He beautifully brings out the rough colour of the score – a wonderfully awkward polonaise. And he accompanies the many soloists with empathy and clarity.” – Peter van der Lint, Trouw
“There is no better conductor for this than Vasily Petrenko, a seasoned opera man. He stands in the pit before the Concertgebouw Orchestra and draws from the players nothing but refinement and intricate phrasing — truly a delight to listen to.” – Frederike Berntsen, Het Parool
“At the cry for bread, conductor Vasily Petrenko pushes the magnificent choir to the limit. The Concertgebouw Orchestra plays beautifully—of course it does—but always with refinement.” – Eva Peek, NRC
“Vasily Petrenko leads the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the singers with precision through the colorful score, with great sensitivity to dynamic nuance.” – Thea Derks, Theater Krant
“Under the attentive baton of Vasily Petrenko, the strings shimmer delicately in wave-like repetitions, while the woodwinds etch their ostinato lines with finesse. The sound can also turn harsh and percussively loud when the people roar, the bells toll Boris’s witching hour, and the military marches in.” – Manuel Brug, Welt
“At the helm of the formidable Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Vasily Petrenko had little trouble navigating the challenges of this uniquely orchestrated score, crafting a reading full of contrasts and atmospheric variety—personal and engaging throughout.” – Edward Saccenti, Opera Click
“The chorus (prepared by Edward Ananian-Cooper) sang in perfect coordination with Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, delivering the impressive ensemble scenes with grand and colorful expression. Petrenko, with his precise conducting style, delivered a powerful interpretation of the complex score. With the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, he created an enthralling undercurrent, rich in dynamic nuance and tonal colour. Combined with the searing singing from soloists and chorus, this premiere made for a dazzling opening to the Holland Festival.” – Franz Straatman, Opera Magazine
The opera will be broadcast on MEZZO TV on 13 July.
Performances remain on 23, 26 and 29 June, after which Petrenko closes his successful season with the Royal Philharmonic in London’s Royal Festival Hall before returning to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic where he is Conductor Laureate, for their annual White Nights concerts, both with Tchaikovsky’s rousing 4th symphony.
Photo: Antoine Saito
