About this Artist

SIR SIMON RATTLE has been chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker and artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonie since September 2002. In the concert hall and opera house, Simon Rattle’s extensive repertoire covers compositions ranging from the Baroque era to contemporary music. Rattle is also principal guest conductor of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and works with leading orchestras on both sides of the Atlantic. Even before taking up his post as principal conductor, Simon Rattle had already collaborated regularly with the BerlinerPhilharmonikerfor fifteen years. Of the many recordings he has made with the orchestra, several have received prestigious awards. All of these releases were recorded live at the Philharmonie.

Born in Liverpool in 1955, Simon Rattlestudiedat London’s Royal Academy of Music.Hewas twenty-five when he began his close association with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), initially as principal conductor and artistic adviser, then –up until the 1998 season –as their musical director. His tireless work and visionary artistic projects helped to turn the CBSO into one of the world’s top-ranking orchestras.

One of Sir Simon’s special passions is for bringing the work and music of the BerlinerPhilharmonikerto young people of the most diverse social and cultural backgrounds. To that end, he has established the Education Programme of the Berliner Philharmoniker, which enables the orchestra to pursue new approaches to promulgating its music.

For this commitment, as well as for his artistic work, Simon Rattle has won manyawards: In 1994, he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II; in 2009, he was awardedthe Spanish Premio Don Juan de Borbón de la Música, the gold medal “Gloria Artis” from thePolish Ministry of Culture and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.Furthermore, in 2010, he was also also he was inducted into the Order of Knights of theFrench Legion of Honour. In February 2013, Sir Simon Rattle was awarded the LéonieSonning Music Prize from the Danish Léonie Sonning Music Foundation in Copenhagen, andin December 2013, the chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker was appointed Memberof the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II.

In January 2013 Sir Simon Rattle announced that he would not renew his contract as chiefconductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker after it expires in 2018. In March 2015 he announcedhis appointmentas Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra beginning in September 2017.

July 2016