Liverpool awards Citizen of Honour to a Russian

Vasily Petrenko, music director of the Royal Liverpool Phil since 2006 and an occasional columnist in the Anfield football programme, will receive an honorary citizenship tomorrow.

Vasily says: ‘I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the city which my family and I have made our home.  I have always known Liverpool to be one of the world’s great music cities, and since coming here in 2006, I’ve experienced first-hand the great passion for music that is at its heart.

‘I would like to offer my thanks to the city, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and his colleagues, our audiences and supporters.  They continue to believe in and support Liverpool Philharmonic’s vision to be one of the world’s great music-making organisations, deeply rooted in our city, and an ambassador for Liverpool as a great place to live, work, study and invest in.’

He looks pleased.