Sir Simon Rattle

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  • Conductor
(c) Oliver Helbig
(c) Oliver Helbig

About Sir Simon

Chief Conductor: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Conductor Laureate: London Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor, Rafael Kubelík Chair: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle was born in Liverpool and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He is Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. He is a Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and a Founding Patron of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. He was Principal Conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 2002 to 2018. In 2024 Sir Simon was announced as the Principal Guest Conductor, Rafael Kubelik Chair, of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sir Simon regularly tours within Europe, the United States and Asia, and has longstanding relationships with the world’s leading orchestras. He regularly conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Czech Philharmonic. Recent operatic highlights include Der Rosenkavalier at The Metropolitan Opera Company, Janáček’s Kat'a Kabanovà at the Staatsoper Berlin, as well as Tristan und Isolde and Wozzeck with the London Symphony Orchestra at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

Music Education is of supreme importance to Sir Simon. During his tenure as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, he announced the creation of the LSO East London Academy. The free programme aims to identify and develop the musical potential of young East Londoners. While Principal Conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker, he made ground breaking changes to the orchestra’s outreach and educational programmes, earning him numerous international awards.

Sir Simon was awarded a knighthood by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1994 and received the Order of Merit in 2014. He received the Order of Merit in Berlin in 2018; and in 2019 was given the Freedom of the City of London.

Sir Simon is based in Berlin

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Contact

For availability and general enquiries:

Henry Lindsay

Henry Lindsay

Associate Director

For contracts, logistics and press:

Representation

Worldwide general management with Askonas Holt

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Season Highlights

Oct 2025
Isarphilharmonie, Munich
Alan Berg: Wozzeck Sir Simon Rattle conductor Christian Gerhaher baritone (Wozzeck) Malin Byström soprano (Marie) Eric Cutler tenor (Tambourmajor) Brindley Sherratt bass (Doktor) Nicky Spence tenor (Hauptmann/Narr) Edgaras Montvidas tenor (Andres) Rinat Shaham mezzo-soprano (Margret) HK Gruber speaker (Erster Handwerksbursch) Ludwig Mittelhammer baritone (Zweiter Handwerksbursch) Kinderchor der Bayerischen Staatsoper Bavarian Radio Chorus Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Oct 2025
Philharmonie Berlin
Berliner Philharmoniker Percy Grainger Lincolnshire Posy Prokofiev Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 - John Adams Harmonielehre
Dec 2025
Philharmonie Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela GERSHWIN Cuban Overture BARBER Adagio for Strings BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story --interval-- MAHLER Symphony No.1
Dec 2025
Rudolfinum, Prague
Czech Philharmonic Berlioz Harold in Italy - Beethoven Symphony No. 3 10, 11 & 12 December Viola: Amihai Grosz Czech Philharmonic Debussy Trois Nocturnes Messiaen Poemes pour Mi - Mahler Symphony No. 4 17, 18 & 19 December
Jan 2026
Barbican Centre, London
London Symphony Orchestra Janacek, The Makropulos Case
Feb 2026
Staatsoper Berlin
Janacek, The Cunning Little Vixen
Apr 2026
Musikverein Vienna
Vienna Philharmonic Mahler: Symphony No. 9
Jun 2026
Royal Festival Hall, London
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Berlioz Harold in Italy (Timothy Ridout) - Berlioz Symphonie Fantasique

Photos

News

Press

  • BBC Proms

    Royal Albert Hall
    Aug 2023
    • Our greatest advocate for classical music may be off to a new life, but we certainly haven't seen the last of ihm.

  • London Symphony Orchestra

    Barbican Centre
    Aug 2023
    • Indeed, it would be hard to devise a more joyous programme – as well as one closer to Rattle’s musical heart and ethos – than the Betsy Jolas world premiere that began it and the monumental Turangalîla symphony of Olivier Messiaen with which it concluded.

  • London Symphony Orchestra

    Barbican Centre
    Jan 2023
    • Under Rattle, the LSO are on ravishing form, perfectly blending the lyricism and intensity of the score.