{"id":28908,"date":"2023-06-05T09:18:03","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T07:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=5893"},"modified":"2023-06-06T16:40:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T14:40:09","slug":"who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Simon Rattle? All you need to know about the British conductor, including his best recordings"},"content":{"rendered":"

We profile the great British conductor Simon Rattle, and choose some of his finest recordings on disc <\/p>

By Elinor Cooper\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 05 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

He\u2019ll be conducting two farewell concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra at the 2023 BBC Proms. And he\u2019s one of the best known conductors in the business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But who is Simon Rattle, which orchestras has he worked with, and what are some of his finest recordings on disc?<\/p>\n

Who is Simon Rattle?<\/h2>\n
Simon Rattle is, put simply, one of the foremost conductors of his or any generation. Perhaps best noted for his work with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra, and with the orchestral works of Mahler, Beethoven, and Sibelius, Rattle has in fact conducted a wide range or repertoire, showing a particular affinity\u00a0 for adventurous orchestral work from the 20th century \u2013 by composers such as Bart\u00f3k<\/strong><\/a>, Stravinsky<\/strong><\/a> and Szymanowski.<\/p>\n\nRattle made his Proms debut in 1976, at the age of 21. A recent graduate of the Royal Academy and winner of the prestigious John Player International Conducting competition, Rattle \u2013 by then assistant conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra \u2013 conducted the London Sinfonietta on 9 August 1976, with a programme including the premi\u00e8re of <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/birtwistle-harrison\/"\">Harrison Birtwistle<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s Meridian.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>When was Simon Rattle born?<\/h3>\nRattle was born on 19 January 1955, in Liverpool.<\/p>\n<h3>Where did he grow up?<\/h3>\nRattle grew up in Liverpool. As a child he learned the piano and violin, but also played percussion for the Merseyside Youth Orchestra (now the <a title=\""Royal\" liverpool=\"\" philharmonic=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Liverpool_Philharmonic#Liverpool_Philharmonic_Youth_Orchestra"\">Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra<\/strong><\/a>). He later entered the <a title=\""Royal\" academy=\"\" of=\"\" music=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Academy_of_Music"\">Royal Academy of Music<\/a><\/strong> in 1971, at the age of 16.<\/p>\n<h3>Which orchestras has Rattle worked with?<\/h3>\nSimon Rattle is best known for his tenure with three\u00a0 major orchestras. He spent nearly two decades (1980-1998) with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where he recorded, among other things, a much-admired cycle\u00a0 of the <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/jean-sibelius\/"\">Sibelius<\/strong><\/a> symphonies.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""My\" cbso=\"\" story:=\"\" sir=\"\" simon=\"\" rattle=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lWB69i8dics?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/simon-rattle-to-rejoin-cbso-for-warehouse-concert-with-full-orchestra-for-first-time-since-lockdown\/"\">Simon Rattle to rejoin CBSO for warehouse concert with full orchestra for first time since lockdown<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/sibelius-a-life-in-10-masterpieces\/"\">Sibelius: A life in 10 masterpieces<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNext came an extended spell as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Rattle took on the role in 199, succeeding Claudio Abbado (<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/who-is-daniel-barenboim\/"\">Daniel Barenboim<\/strong><\/a> was the other candidate in the running). He remained with the Berlin Phil until 2018, producing, among other things, complete cycles of the symphonies of <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/ludwig-van-beethoven\/"\">Beethoven<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/johannes-brahms\/"\">Brahms<\/strong><\/a>, and Mahler.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/berlin-philharmonics-past-chief-conductors\/"\">Who are the Berlin Philharmonic\u2019s past chief conductors?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLatterly, Rattle has worked as music director\u00a0 of the London Symphony orchestra. He took on the role for the start of the 2017-18 concert season, and will give his\u00a0 final performances with the London Symphony during the 2023 BBC Proms. He leads them twice during the Proms: for a performance of Schumann\u2019s Das Paradies und Die Peri<\/em>, with soloists including his wife <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/simon-rattle-and-magdalena-kozena-best-recordings\/"\">Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1<\/a>, <\/em><\/strong>and for <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/francis-poulenc\/"\">Poulenc\u2019s<\/a> <\/strong>Figure humaine<\/em> (with the BBC Singers) and <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/gustav-mahler\/"\">Mahler\u2019s<\/a> <\/strong>Symphony No. 9 on Sunday 27 August.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/which-is-the-best-mahler-symphony\/"\">Which is the best Mahler symphony?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3>Who is Simon Rattle married to?<\/h3>\nRattle is married to the Cezch mezzo-soprano <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/simon-rattle-and-magdalena-kozena-best-recordings\/"\">Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Simon Rattle: best recordings<\/h2>\n<h2><a style=\""font-size:\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/guide-js-bach-st-matthew-passion-best-recordings\/"\">JS Bach: St Matthew Passion<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\nCamilla Tilling, <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/simon-rattle-and-magdalena-kozena-best-recordings\/"\">Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1<\/a>, Topi Lehtipuu, Mark Padmore, Christian Gerhaher, Thomas Quasthoff, Rundfunkchor Berlin\/Simon Halsey, Berlin Philharmonic\/Simon Rattle<\/strong><br\/>Berlin Philharmonic BPHR140021<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nIn our age of period instruments and historically-informed performance, you wouldn\u2019t necessarily turn to the <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/simon-rattle-and-berlin-philharmonic\/"\">Berlin Philharmonic<\/strong><\/a> and the progressive Sir Simon for a top-quality\u00a0St Matthew Passion.\u00a0<\/em>But that\u2019s where you\u2019d be mistaken.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/simon-rattle-and-berlin-philharmonic\/"\">The best recordings of Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn 2012 Simon Rattle teamed up with director Peter Sellars to create a dramatic \u2018ritualisation\u2019 of the\u00a0St Matthew<\/em>, and in turn one of its most moving interpretations. The choir and vocal soloists learned their parts by heart, leaving them free to move around the stage, hinting at both the unfolding drama and <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/johann-sebastian-bach\/"\">Bach<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s vision of two orchestras and choirs facing each other, bound up in their profound, prayerful journey. The sound quality is sublime, the singing and playing sensational.<br\/>Words by: Oliver Condy<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/dvd-bach-sept-12\/"\">Read\u00a0BBC Music Magazine<\/em>\u2018s review of this recording here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.prestomusic.com\/classical\/products\/8046605--bach-j-s-st-matthew-passion-bwv244?country=GB&currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAiAi_D_BRApEiwASslbJ2JRosIyaPbdDPE5tnYheW6sNjOY8c5s0RBTPpZxbyH-8M8Eh7q6tRoCRwoQAvD_BwE"\">Buy from Presto Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3\/>\n<h3><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/percy-grainger\/"\">Percy Grainger<\/a>: In a nutshell<\/em><\/h3>\nMalcolm Wilson, Roderick Elms, Wayne Marshall, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra\/Simon Rattle<br\/><\/strong>Warner Classics 5564122<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nOne of my most vivid memories of starting off as a young, impressionable editorial assistant on Classic CD magazine back in the summer of 1997 was the sound of Simon Rattle and the CBSO\u2019s (then) new disc of Grainger orchestral works floating through the office.<\/p>\nThe opening In a Nutshell<\/em>, the suite that gives the disc its title, is a gloriously quirky piece, ranging from the almost-hypnotic \u2018Pastoral\u2019 to the boisterous \u2018Gum-Suckers\u2019 march. Grainger\u2019s exotic orchestration of Ravel\u2019s La vall\u00e9e des cloches<\/em>, meanwhile, soon had me exploring the latter composer\u2019s piano music.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""In\" a=\"\" nutshell=\"\" suite=\"\" :=\"\" i.=\"\" arrival=\"\" platform=\"\" humlet=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kRgNLATmnkQ?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nWonderfully played and sumptuously recorded, it remains one of my favourite discs, not just by Simon Rattle, but in my entire collection.<br\/>Words by: Jeremy Pound<\/em><\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Warriors-imaginary-ballet-orchestra-pianos\/dp\/B0130H8VUK\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Wayne+Marshall%2C+City+of+Birmingham+Symphony+Orchestra+rattle+grainger&qid=1610368111&sr=8-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0"\" rel=\""sponsored" noopener noreferrer\" target=\""_blank"\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.prestomusic.com\/classical\/products\/7925543--percy-grainger-in-a-nutshell"\">Buy from Presto Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3\/>\n<h3><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/maurice-ravel\/"\">Ravel<\/a>: L\u2019Enfant et les sortil\u00e8ges; Ma m\u00e8re l\u2019Oye<\/em><\/h3>\nSoloists; Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Radio Choir\/Sir Simon Rattle<\/strong><br\/>Warner Classics 2641972<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019ve just been watching one of the first Simon Rattle and London Symphony Orchestra recordings to be released on the eve of their new partnership, a DVD of a scintillating French programme. <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/henri-dutilleux\/"\">Dutilleux<\/strong><\/a>, Delage and Ravel make for a delectable trio. And it sent me back to a recording of two Ravel pieces that I adore:\u00a0L\u2019Enfant et les sortil\u00e8ges<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Ma mere l\u2019Oye<\/em>.<\/p>\nI first got to know\u00a0Mother Goose<\/em>\u00a0at the piano, but how wonderful to hear it in full colour, particularly with the luscious tone of the <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/simon-rattle-and-berlin-philharmonic\/"\">Berlin Philharmonic<\/strong><\/a> strings.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-new__article-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/worlds-best-orchestras\/"\">The best orchestras in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThis account is full of fairytale magic: the contrabassoon Beast is deliciously growly, the clarinet Beauty dances gracefully, while the Empress of the Pagodas sparkles.<\/p>\nRattle first conducted the one-act opera\u00a0l\u2019enfant et les sortil\u00e8ges<\/em> when he was 19, and his affection for the piece shines through. The cast is not too shabby either: <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/simon-rattle-and-magdalena-kozena-best-recordings\/"\">Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1<\/strong><\/a>, Nathalie Stutzmann, Sophie Koch, Jose van Dam, Francois Le Roux and Jean-Paul Fouchecourt revel in Ravel\u2019s vision of childhood.<br\/>Words by: Rebecca Franks<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/opera\/ravel-59\/"\">Read\u00a0BBC Music Magazine<\/em>\u2018s review of this recording here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Ravel-Lenfant-sortil%C3%A8ges-m%C3%A8re-loye\/dp\/B001PKVFG2\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ravel+sortileges+kozena+berlin&qid=1610368162&sr=8-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0"\" rel=\""sponsored" noopener noreferrer\" target=\""_blank"\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.prestomusic.com\/classical\/products\/7978393--ravel-lenfant-et-les-sortileges-mother-goose"\">Buy from Presto Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3\/>\n<h3><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/gustav-holst\/"\">Holst<\/a>: <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/best-recordings-holsts-planets\/"\">The Planets<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\nAmbrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra\/Simon Rattle<\/strong><br\/>EMI ASD 4047<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nWhen I was at junior school I heard Holst\u2019s \u2018Mars\u2019 on the car radio and asked my parents what it was. They bought me an EMI LP of\u00a0<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/best-recordings-holsts-planets\/"\">The Planets<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with its stunning NASA image of Saturn on the cover. This 1981 performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra was conducted by Simon Rattle. I remember the picture of the conductor with his big hair.<\/p>\nWhenever I hear the ominous 5\/4 rhythm of \u2018Mars\u2019, I think back to this record and the intense listening experience, as it builds up to its thundering\u00a0ffff<\/em> \u2013 almost like the horror of a battlefield. I was told to listen out for the tenor tuba which Holst had imported from a military band.<\/p>\nThe record also introduced me to the other wonderful Planets<\/em>, including the well-known tunes of \u2018Jupiter\u2019, the bleak chimes of \u2018Saturn\u2019 and the ethereal wordless singing of \u2018Neptune\u2019.<br\/>Words by: Neil McKim<\/em><\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Holst-Planets-Op-32-1981-Recording\/dp\/B01CH5F73K\/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Holst+The+Planets+Ambrosian+Singers%2C+Philharmonia+Orchestra+Simon+Rattle&qid=1610368195&sr=8-2&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0"\" rel=\""sponsored" noopener noreferrer\" target=\""_blank"\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.prestomusic.com\/classical\/products\/8112382--holst-the-planets-op-32"\">Buy from Presto Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/robert-schumann\/"\">Schumann<\/a>: Das Paradies und die Peri<\/em><\/h3>\nSally Matthews, Mark Padmore, Kate Royal, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples, Florian Boesch; London Symphony Chorus\/Simon Halsey; <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/the-london-symphony-orchestra-five-famous-conductors\/"\">London Symphony Orchestra<\/a>\/Simon Rattle<br\/>LSO Live LSO0782<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nOne of the first discs that came into the office after I started at BBC Music Magazine <\/em>was this brilliant recording \u2013\u00a0Simon Rattle\u2019s first on the LSO Live label \u2013\u00a0of Schumann\u2019s Das Paradies und die Peri<\/em>. Though little-known today, in Schumann\u2019s lifetime this strange mythological oratorio was seen as the most popular piece he ever wrote.<\/p>\nWith Simon Rattle at the helm, this fantastic cast of top British singers weave a web of mystery which captured my imagination, and has continued to do so ever since.<br\/>Words by: Elinor Cooper<\/em><\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/monthly-choice\/schumann-das-paradies-und-die-peri\/"\">Read\u00a0BBC Music Magazine<\/em>\u2018s review of this recording here<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Das Paradies und die Peri <\/em>at the<\/strong> <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/bbc-proms\/bbc-proms-2023-schedule\/"\">2023 BBC Proms<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Schumann-Paradies-Peri-Rattle-Audio\/dp\/B00WA8QSQA\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=schumann+London+Symphony+Orchestra%2FSimon+Rattle&qid=1610368238&sr=8-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0"\" rel=\""sponsored" noopener noreferrer\" target=\""_blank"\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.prestomusic.com\/classical\/products\/8076009--schumann-das-paradies-und-die-peri-op-50"\">Buy from Presto Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We profile the great British conductor Simon Rattle, and choose some of his finest recordings on disc <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":28909,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-scaled.jpg",2560,1723,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-300x202.jpg",300,202,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-768x517.jpg",768,517,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-1024x689.jpg",800,538,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-1536x1034.jpg",1536,1034,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/who-is-simon-rattle-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-conductor-including-his-best-recordings-2048x1379.jpg",2048,1379,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We profile the great British conductor Simon Rattle, and choose some of his finest recordings on disc","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/28908"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}