Interview with conductor Vasili Petrenko
After Melbourne and Michigan, there came the turn of Enescu's works to
be performed in Liverpool too, on February 4 and 5. The Russian conductor
Vasili Petrenko included the Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 by George Enescu
in a program dedicated exclusively to the rhapsodies. This way, the Romanian
Rhapsody opened the concert evenings, being followed by Rachmaninoff's
Rhapsody on a topic by Paganini, by the 'Rhapsody in blue' by George Gershwin,
and, in the end, by Maurice Ravel's Spanish Rhapsody. Vasili Petrenko
offered an exclusive interview for Radio Romania Muzical, in which he
talked to us about the great Romanian composer.
One
of the reasons that determine people to come to the concerts is to hear
classical compositions with which they are familiar. Why did you choose
to open the concert with Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody, since the British
audience is not that familiar with it as with the other rhapsodies of
the program?
I believe that, unfortunately, Enescu is a bit underestimated. I consider
him to be a wonderful composer and I admire him very much. Moreover, I
think that, if the audience were offered exclusively compositions by Tchaikovsky
or Beethoven, it would get bored at a certain point. It is as if you offered
it only the dessert instead of the whole menu. Also, I think a repertoire
which is as varied as possible should be approached, so that the horizon
is permanently widened. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has a very flexible
policy regarding the performance of the modern compositions. Last year
alone thirty first auditions of such works took place. The audience already
trusts us; it realizes that the compositions we offer are very beautiful,
although less known.
Is it the first time you have conducted the Romanian Rhapsody No. 1?
If it is not, with what other orchestras have you performed it in front
of an audience?
It is not the first time. Eight years ago I conducted it in Besançon,
France, with the Strasbourg Orchestra, then, three years ago, with the
Luxembourg Orchestra. Then it was in honor of the accession of Romania
and Bulgaria to the European Union, and many important figures of your
country were present there.
Where did you find the most enthusiastic audience reaction to Enescu's
Rhapsody?
All audiences were charmed at it. It is a very appreciated and beautiful
composition, it is easy to understand all over the world. It is bright,
it is one of Enescu's masterpieces. It is not that well-known, but I try
to bring it to the limelight.
Does your repertoire also include other works of Enescu?
Yes, I have also conducted the first orchestral suite, and I want to conduct
Symphony No. 1 this season.
Have you ever planned to make a broadcast of the Romanian Rhapsody
or other Enescu scores?
Not for the time being, but we do not exclude this possibility. We have
so many broadcasts to make now and it is hard for us to plan one more.
For instance, we will broadcast a Shostakovich Integral. A lot of music
by Elgar. In two or three years, I will probably love to broadcast this
composition.
When
interviewed, other musicians said that Enescu's compositions were difficult
not only for the orchestra but also for the audience. What is your view
upon the matter?
I do not think his compositions are difficult, at least not the Rhapsody.
The truth is that the orchestral suites get difficult at some point, and
that the symphony also has some 'corners', some darker parts. It is more
difficult for instrumentalists because the scores for chords, for instance,
include many virtuosic elements. They have to study hard to make what
they have to perform sound beautiful.
What could you tell us about the concert on February the 4th 2009?
It was a beautiful spectacle, and the audience was charmed with it. We
performed the four rhapsodies (Enescu, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Ravel).
It was very interesting and it was a real pleasure for me to have stood
at the conductor's desk. I am looking forward to the evening of February
the 5th, when we are going to perform the same musical program.
Are Enescu's compositions often performed in the United Kingdom?
To be honest, not very often. Still, he is surely not forgotten. He is
appreciated for his elements of originality.
A last question: have you ever been invited to conduct an orchestra
in Romania?
No, I have not come but I would love to. I will probably come with the
Liverpool Orchestra. It is not 100% sure yet, but we plan to make a musical
tour in that part of Europe.
An interview by Petra GHERASIM, Thursday, February the 5th, 2009
Translated by Florentina Yvonne Penciu
MA student, MTTLC, Bucharest University