Sir Simon Rattle

Sir Simon Rattle was born in 1955 in Liverpool. Studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Thereafter since 1980 close connection to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO): initially as principal conductor and artistic advisor, then – until the 1998 season – as musical director. Since 2002 chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonie. Simon Rattle’s repertoire as concert and opera conductor ranges from baroque to new music. Principal guest conductor of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Has worked regularly with the leading European and US orchestras und enjoyed a 15-year cooperation with the Berlin Philharmonic before becoming chief conductor. During this time, particularly in recent years, many award-winning recordings resulted, all recorded live in the Berlin Philharmonie.
Founded the education programme Zukunft@BPhil, with which the orchestra pursues new paths in communicating music to young people. 2007 awarded the Golden Camera and the Urania Medal for this commitment. Numerous other prizes include in 2009 the Spanish Premio Don Juan de Borbón de la Música, Gold Medal ”Gloria Artis“ from the Polish Ministry for Arts and Culture and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In April 2005 appointed Honorary Senator of the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin in appreciation of his services to the renewal of musical culture and his commitment to the musical and artistic education of young people.

November 2009