Andrei Petrenko is a Russian choral and opera conductor known for his long tenure as chief choirmaster at the Mariinsky Theatre. An "Honoured Artist of Russia," he is also a respected educator and has toured with various ensembles throughout Europe and Asia.
Career highlights
Early career: Petrenko's conducting career began in 1981 at the Musical Comedy Theatre in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). He directed the Choir of Singing Fans of the Leningrad Choral Society from 1973 to 1989 and also served as a guest conductor for the St. Petersburg Congress Orchestra.
Educator: He was a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1989 to 2000, directing the Conservatory's Chamber Choir, which won first prize at the International Festival of Sacred Music in Poland in 1993.
Smolny Cathedral Choir: From 1994 to 2000, he was the artistic director of the Smolny Cathedral Choir, leading them on tours across Europe.
Mariinsky Theatre: Petrenko served as the Mariinsky Theatre's Principal Chorus Master from 2000 to 2020. During his tenure, he conducted a cappella programs and numerous opera productions and participated in recordings with renowned singers like Plácido Domingo.
Yekaterinburg Philharmonic Choir: In 2015, Petrenko was appointed artistic director of the Yekaterinburg Philharmonic Choir, an ensemble he still leads. The choir has released several albums under his direction and has performed internationally at festivals like Beethovenfest and La Folle Journée.
Recent positions: More recently, he was named the opera production assistant to the artistic director of the Mikhailovsky Theater in 2021.
Repertoire and awards
Petrenko's extensive repertoire includes standard operatic works, Russian choral concertos, and ballets.
In addition to winning international conducting prizes, he was honored with the Highest Theater Prize of St. Petersburg and a diploma from the President of Russia for his contributions to the 2014 Sochi Olympics.