Tim Ashley [5 February 2008, The Guardian]

'It's been a hard day," says Vasily Petrenko, with a broad grin. "I could do with a pint." He doesn't seem remotely tired - although he is, undoubtedly, a busy man. Petrenko, a big, blond, handsome St Petersburger, is principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. With Liverpool now the European Capital of Culture, this means he has a lot on his plate. He and the Phil, as the orchestra is known round here, have put on three concerts in the week we spoke, and he has been rehearsing all day.