Sir Simon Rattle

Simon Rattle was born in Liverpool in 1955 and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Winner of the 1974 John Player International Conducting Competition, his career developed rapidly and guest titles included Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. In 1980 he became Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, then Music Director from September 1990 until August 1998 and was also Artistic Adviser of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. As guest conductor, he appeared regularly in the United States, London and Europe, building close links with a number or orchestras. Since October 1992, he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the OAE and during the past decade has also established a very close rapport with Vienna Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestras. He became Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker in September 2002 and is also Music Director of the Osterfestspiele Salzburg, where in 2006 he led a new production of Debussy's 'Pelléas et Mélisande'. In November 2005 Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker completed their first tour together to the Far East, with concerts in Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo. His complete Ring for Aix-en-Provence Festival began in 2006 and the cycle will also be presented in the Salzburg Osterfestspiele starting in 2007. An exclusive EMI artist many years, Simon Rattle has made over seventy recordings, and received numerous prestigious international awards.

Photo: Trevor Leighton