Kirill Petrenko: An election in which wins the Art – Courier

W he very but the Berliner Philharmoniker were medial beaten, as they had not accomplished it on May 11 to elect a new head. . After a meeting that had lasted longer than twelve hours, there has been no agreement at that time, who should follow Sir Simon Rattle

Now, six weeks later, rose in Berlin but white smoke on Kirill Petrenko , 43, was born in Omsk (Siberia), grew up partly in Vorarlberg since 2013 music director of the Bavarian State Opera, the seventh chief conductor of the orchestra is.

It matches the reclusive conductor that he was not present at the announcement in Berlin. There will also in the future no interviews – which denies Petrenko for years, because he considers it a waste of time. Therefore, it is giving him no explanation of how it came to this decision. The orchestra spokesman refused to specify details. When asked why they had such media attention not elected on May 11, while now secretly held a meeting, it only meant: The deadline had been planned long silent. Then the date in Vienna had become public (meaning these COURIER items), so we’ve held on procedure.

But what really took place behind the scenes?

The fact that the decision for Petrenko was only now does not correspond to the facts. Already during the vote on 11 May, he was the declared winner. Mariss Jansons also was one of their preferred conductor – these had but a few days earlier withdrawn from the race, as he extended his contract with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra

When the Berlin on 11 May Petrenko reached by phone and him. their vote informed, he is said to have initially rejected. A trait which characterizes him as a serious artist: he is until the end of 2017 / ’18 in Munich under contract and wanted to continue to focus on this office. Since then, there have been negotiations; all options of how to arrive at a solution, were explored. The likely look like this: Petrenko occurs in 2018 in Berlin, but also extended his contract in Munich. The local opera chief Nikolaus Bachler pointed out in this regard negotiations. By 2020, there should be two opera premieres with Petrenko per season, after a year, you can hear. This would have enough time for Berlin. A success for all parties.

Petrenko excelled last among others in Bayreuth with the “Ring”, the last time this year he conducts. There he met at rehearsals Christian Thielemann, the “Tristan” rehearsed, and was said to own an interest in Berlin. Is unlikely to be very relaxed.

Petrenko the antithesis of marketing professionals as Gustavo Dudamel and most likely is the legendary Carlos Kleiber, who made himself as scarce comparable. He is rehearsing intensively than anyone else (before his Bayreuth debut, he studied for many years with his colleagues the acoustics in the theater). At performances he creates regularly the balance of depth and lightness of sound noise and brilliant analysis.

This choice is purely a quality decision and return to artistic values. One will Petrenko, but must pass by the Berliners that he conducted only three times: His skepticism about CD productions

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