Profile: Conductor Simon Rattle
The current Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra is much-loved by audiences and musicians alike
Warner ClassicsLast updated 9th Sep 2020
Conductor Simon Rattle has been a professional musician since early in his musical career, debuting with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1974, conducting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra throughout the eighties and nineties, to working with the mighty Berlin Philharmonic in the 2000s and 2010s.
He’s much-loved by audiences and musicians alike and projects an air of solid determination with a soft voice and carefully considered thoughts with an often devastating impact.
Arguably it's for this reason he’s seen as an influential individual in the classical music world. The former National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain percussionist is often heard banging the drum for music education, the case for a new concert hall for Birmingham throughout the eighties, and over the past few years underpinning the argument for a new concert venue in London.
Watch Jack Pepper interview Sir Simon Rattle
Rattle’s return to the UK after nearly 16 years conducting the Berlin Philharmonic was hailed with loud applause at London’s Barbican when he stepped onto the stage to conduct his first gig with the London Symphony Orchestra as Music Director in 2019. Around about the same time he met up with Jack Pepper.
Rattle has a youthful quick-wittedness about him too, deftly challenging many negative assumptions held about the classical music world. Affable and self-effacing, Rattle has an undeniable warmth about him. And like all the best people he’s self-deprecating too.
Who could forget his sparkling role conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012? The consummate professional failing to be rattled by principal keyboard player Mr Bean. A special moment for the LSO, and classical music seen by millions across the world.