When Kirill Petrenko performed Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony with the Berliner Philharmoniker in March 2017, one critic was “stunned at how beautiful and breathtakingly exciting this music can be”. This first audio release of the orchestra and its new chief conductor reflects the whole sonority and intensity of the interpretation – and offers a taste of an exciting new beginning.
The orchestra’s musicians, audiences and journalists had high expectations of the concert. After all, this was their first appearance together since the Berliner Philharmoniker had elected Kirill Petrenko as their chief conductor two years earlier. In the end there were loud cheers, and the press’s verdict: “A triumph”.
While the rehearsals were still characterised by concentrated work on sound, color, and phrasing, during the concert itself, musicianship took over, born entirely of the moment, full of commitment, energy and emotion.
Here is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #6:
