Page 188 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

21 October 2023

Vasily Petrenko returns to Liverpool for a

spectacular Russian evening

By Leighton Jones, 21 October 2023
Before the first notes sounded, the atmosphere in a full Philharmonic Hall was electric. On
walking on to the platform the admiration from the Liverpudlian audience was clear for the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Conductor Laureate Vasily Petrenko. Opening
the evening was a rarity, Lyadov’s short, but enchanting tone poem Kikamora. Telling a
mystical tale, Petrenko wove the story with magic and awe. Hushed pianissimos created a
breathlessness as enchanted cor anglais solos created a bewitching atmosphere.

Vasily Petrenko
© Svetlana Tarlova

Christian Li, just 15 years old, joined the orchestra for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s
Violin Concerto. Li’s stature may be slight but his musical presence was enormous. His
interpretation is understandably still at the beginning of his journey with the work, however