Russian maestro Vasily Petrenko takes on Philharmonic Orchestra

OHMYGOSSIP — The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra is finally about to officially take on the young Russian, Vasily Petrenko, as its new conductor, and vice versa. After a two-year build-up, the waiting is over and “Petrenko Fever” is set to infect Philharmonic fans.

37-year-old Petrenko will make his debut as the Oslo Philharmonic’s new chief conductor at its annual free outdoor concert on the City Hall Plaza (Rådhusplassen) August 14. That’s when the orchestra traditionally performs Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, “Ode to Joy,” and it’s with quite a bit of joy that Petrenko is being welcomed to Oslo, succeeding Jukka-Pekka Saraste, who bowed out at the end of the last season in May.

Petrenko has already thanked his Oslo fans for what he’s called “a warm welcome.” He’s earlier worked with the Philharmonic on several occasions, conducting a free concert shortly after his appointment in March 2011 and touring with the orchestra later that year.

Now he says he greatly looks forward to “get better acquainted” with his Oslo audiences, and have “a lively dialogue.” Newspaper Aftenposten announced this week that at least part of that dialogue will take place through a monthly column Petrenko has committed to write for the paper’s website. The first one is due out “a few days” before the outdoor concert on the evening of August 14.

“I want to write about the music but also about my trips around the world, about my expectations and reflections around concerts, and about moving to Norway,” Petrenko told Aftenposten. “It’s a way for me to get in contact with the public, also those who seldom have been in a concert house.”

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