Kirill Petrenko in conversation with Dominik Wollenweber (12 min.)

The acclaimed performances of Tchaikovsky’s fifth and sixth symphonies are among the highlights of Kirill Petrenko’s work together with the Berliner Philharmoniker. In January 2021, two more works by Tchaikovsky were programmed: the Romeo and Juliet overture and the fantasy for orchestra Francesca da Rimini. Audiences also heard The Isle of the Dead by Rachmaninov – a composer who has been particularly close to Kirill Petrenko’s heart since childhood. In conversation with the orchestra’s cor anglais player Dominik Wollenweber, the chief conductor explains the circumstances of the pieces’s creation and the influence of symbolism on 20th century Russian music. We also learn that not only was Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead inspired by works of visual art, but also Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini.