Sir Simon Rattle Essentials

After the soaraway success of his early career, Simon Rattle, then in his 20s, was asked about his future development. “It’ll be all right providing I’m given time to study,” he replied. “I’ve got time on my side, but I mustn’t misuse it.” Nobody could accuse the British conductor of wasting a moment since. He celebrates his 70th birthday as incumbent Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the latest in a glittering array of music directorships including those of the London Symphony Orchestra and the mighty Berliner Philharmoniker. Born in Liverpool in January 1955, Rattle gained his first professional contract at the tender age of 19, the result of his sensational victory in the John Player International Conducting Competition. He took charge of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1980 and, over the next 18 years, transformed it from a worthy regional band into a world-class ensemble. Rattle’s Birmingham tenure saw the creation of his orchestra’s new home at Symphony Hall, and delivered landmark recordings including a glorious account of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with Janet Baker, and a potently atmospheric performance of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater. The Berliner Philharmoniker’s players voted to appoint Rattle as their principal conductor in 1999. After he assumed the post three years later, he added Adès, Sibelius and Vaughan Williams to the orchestra’s staple diet of Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner. Rattle returned to his homeland in 2017 as music director of the London Symphony Orchestra, enhancing its legendary discography not least with a searing account of Janáček’s Katya Kabanova, a superb cycle of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos with Krystian Zimerman, and a vibrant performance of Britten’s Spring Symphony. Rattle’s status is reflected in the select company he keeps as a guest conductor. Shortly before starting work in Berlin, he recorded Beethoven’s nine symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. His credits also include albums of songs with the Czech Philharmonic and his mezzo-soprano wife, Magdalena Kožená, and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with Glyndebourne Opera and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.