Barbican shames BBC Proms with Kirill Petrenko’s UK debut

The BBC were offered a Proms visit last summer by the Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Kirill Petrenko. The Proms team declined on the grounds that the conductor was unknown in this country.

Petrenko was then elected music director of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Now the Barbican has announced a visit next season by Petrenko and his orchestra. Good for them.

Sad for the BBC.

Sir Nicholas Kenyon, the Barbican’s director, is a former head of the BBC Proms.

Other orchs visiting the Barb next season are: Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel; Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons; Orchestra of La Scala conducted by Riccardo Chailly; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Herbert Blomstedt.