:Simon Rattle

Simon Rattle was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Pauline Lila Violet (née Greening) and Denis Guttridge Rattle, a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II.{{cite news | author=Nick Barratt | title=Family detective | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2007/09/01/fafamdet101.xml | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=1 September 2007 | access-date=27 September 2007 | location=London | archive-date=11 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911073001/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=%2Feducation%2F2007%2F09%2F01%2Ffafamdet101.xml | url-status=live }} He was educated at Liverpool College. Although Rattle studied piano and violin, his early work with orchestras was as a percussionist for the Merseyside Youth Orchestra (now the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra). He entered the Royal Academy of Music (now part of the University of London) in 1971. There, his teachers included John Carewe. In 1974, his graduation year, Rattle won the John Player International Conducting Competition.

After organising and conducting a performance of Mahler's Second Symphony while he was still at the academy, he was talent-spotted by the music agent Martin Campbell-White, of Harold Holt Ltd (now Askonas Holt Ltd), who has since managed Rattle's career.{{cite web|title=Artist Details: Sir Simon Rattle |url=http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/green/green/home.nsf/ArtistDetails/Sir%20Simon%20Rattle |publisher=Askonas Holt |access-date=17 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618074613/http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/green/green/home.nsf/ArtistDetails/Sir%20Simon%20Rattle |archive-date=18 June 2007 }} He spent the academic year 1980–81 at St Anne's College, Oxford studying English Language and Literature.{{cite news | author=Sholto Byrnes | title=Simon Rattle: Marching to a revolutionary beat | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/simon-rattle-marching-to-a-revolutionary-beat-410417.html | work=The Independent | date=4 August 2006 | access-date=6 August 2007 | location=London | archive-date=22 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022043034/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/simon-rattle-marching-to-a-revolutionary-beat-410417.html | url-status=live }} He had been attracted to the college by the reputation of Dorothy Bednarowska, fellow and tutor in English.{{cite news|last1=Jay|first1=Elizabeth|title=Dorothy Bednarowska|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dorothy-bednarowska-124626.html|access-date=16 June 2017|work=The Independent|date=17 January 2003|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702190534/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dorothy-bednarowska-124626.html|url-status=live}} He was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Anne's in 1991.{{cite news | title=Muriel Spark and Simon Rattle in honorands list | url=http://163.1.0.45/gazette/1998-9/weekly/210199/news/story_3.htm | work=Oxford University Gazette | date=21 January 1999 | access-date=6 August 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701102506/http://163.1.0.45/gazette/1998-9/weekly/210199/news/story_3.htm | archive-date=1 July 2012 | df=dmy-all }} He was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Music honoris causa of the University of Oxford in 1999.{{cite news | title=Conferment of Honorary Degrees: Degree of Doctor of Music, Sir Simon Rattle, CBE | url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1998-9/supps/1_4517.htm#7Ref | work=Oxford University Gazette (Encaenia 1999, Supplement (1) to Gazette No. 4517) | date=25 June 1999 | access-date=6 August 2007 | archive-date=18 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318190523/http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1998-9/supps/1_4517.htm#7Ref | url-status=dead }}

In 1974, he was made assistant conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

He joined the Glyndebourne Festival Opera music staff at the age of 20 in 1975. He went on to conduct over 200 performances of 13 different operas at Glyndebourne and on tour during the subsequent 28 years.

His first Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, conducting the London Sinfonietta, was, according to the BBC Proms Archive website, on 9 August 1976. The programme included Harrison Birtwistle's Meridian and Arnold Schoenberg's First Chamber Symphony. In 1977, he became assistant conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

His time with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) from 1980 to 1998 drew him to the attention of critics and the public. In 1980, Rattle became the CBSO's principal conductor and artistic adviser, and in 1990, music director. Rattle increased both his profile and that of the orchestra over his tenure. One of his long-term concert projects was the series of concerts of 20th-century music titled "Towards the Millennium". One other major achievement during his time was the move of the CBSO from its former venue, Birmingham Town Hall, to a newly built concert hall, Symphony Hall, in 1991. The BBC commissioned film director Jaine Green to follow him in his final year with the CBSO to make Simon Rattle—Moving On.

Rattle was appointed a {{postnominals|country=GBR|CBE|size=100%}} in 1987 and made a Knight Bachelor in 1994. In 1992, Rattle was named a principal guest conductor of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE), along with Frans Brüggen. Rattle now has the title of Principal Artist with the OAE. In 2001, he conducted the OAE at Glyndebourne in their first production of Fidelio with a period-instrument orchestra.{{cite news|author=Peter Conrad|title=What's so funny about Beethoven?|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,479986,00.html|work=The Observer| date=29 April 2001 | access-date=29 March 2007 | location=London}}

Rattle strongly supported youth music. He led two attempts at gaining the record for the World's Largest Orchestra, both designed to raise awareness of youth music in schools. The first, in 1996, was unsuccessful. The second, in 1998, did succeed and the record held at nearly 4,000 musicians{{cite news | title=Children create world's biggest orchestra | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/220543.stm | work=BBC | date=23 November 1998 | access-date=27 March 2010 | archive-date=29 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129020422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/220543.stm | url-status=live }} until it was broken in 2000 by a group in Vancouver.{{cite news | title=World's Largest Orchestra | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/world-s-largest-orchestra-1.200231 | work=CBC News | date=15 May 2000 | access-date=27 March 2010 | archive-date=6 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106171824/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/05/15/bc_orchestra000515.html | url-status=live }}

In 2000, Rattle was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society. From 29 April to 17 May 2002, he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, making live recordings of the complete Beethoven symphonies.EMI Classics Beethoven Symphonies box set, p. 66 of booklet{{Full citation needed|date=March 2023|reason=Catalogue number?}} In May 2006, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Arts. In 2011, the Royal Academy of Music presented him with an honorary doctorate. He was appointed member of the Order of Merit (OM) in the 2014 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=60728 |supp=y|page=2|date=31 December 2013}}

Rattle conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Opening of the London Olympics 2012, performing "Chariots of Fire" with guest Rowan Atkinson playing his Mr. Bean character.

Rattle made his conducting debut with the Berlin Philharmonic (BPO) in 1987, in a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6. In 1999, Rattle was appointed as successor to Claudio Abbado as the orchestra's principal conductor.{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Picking up the baton | url=https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,288989,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=24 June 1999 | access-date=22 March 2007 | location=London | archive-date=17 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191628/http://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,288989,00.html | url-status=live }} The appointment was decided on in a 23 June vote by the orchestra's members. At the time the vote was considered somewhat controversial, as several members of the orchestra were earlier reported to have preferred Daniel Barenboim for the post.{{cite news | author1=Fiachra Gibbons | author2=Kate Connolly | title=Rattle set for classic music's top job | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,292499,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=12 June 1999 | access-date=22 March 2007 | location=London | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819095701/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jun/12/fiachragibbons.kateconnolly | url-status=live }} Nevertheless, Rattle won the post and proceeded to win over his detractors by refusing to sign the contract until he had ensured that every member of the orchestra was paid fairly, and also that the orchestra would gain artistic independence from the Berlin Senate.{{cite news | author=Ivan Hewett | title=Wilkommen Sir Simon! | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/09/07/bmrat07.xml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040322211120/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/09/07/bmrat07.xml | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 March 2004 |work=The Daily Telegraph| date=7 September 2002 | access-date=22 March 2004 | location=London}}

Before leaving for Germany and on his arrival, Rattle controversially attacked the British attitude to culture in general, and in particular the artists of the Britart movement,{{cite news | author=Kate Connolly and Amelia Hill | title=Rattle fires parting shot at Brit Art bratpack | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/aug/25/arts.artsnews | work=The Observer | date=25 August 2002 | access-date=30 January 2007 | location=London}} together with the state funding of culture in the UK.{{cite news | author=Vanessa Thorpe | title=Rattle's rage at 'amateur' Arts Council | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,560610,00.html | work=The Observer | date=30 September 2001 | access-date=30 January 2007 | location=London}}

Since his appointment, Rattle has reorganised the Berlin Philharmonic into a foundation, meaning its activities are more under the control of the members rather than politicians. He has also ensured that orchestra members' wages have increased quite dramatically, after falling over the previous few years.{{cite news | author=Kate Connolly | title=Roll over Beethoven, here comes Sir Simon | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,788189,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=8 September 2002 | access-date=17 August 2007 | location=London | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100253/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/08/arts.artsnews1 | url-status=live }} He gave his first concert as principal conductor of the BPO on 7 September 2002, leading performances of Thomas Adès' Asyla and Mahler's Symphony No. 5, performances which received rave reviews from the press worldwide{{cite news | author=Kate Connolly | title=Rattle's rapturous debut | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,788529,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=9 September 2002 | access-date=22 March 2007 | location=London | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100443/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/09/germany.arts | url-status=live }} and were recorded for CD and DVD release by EMI. Early collaborative projects in the Berlin community with Rattle and the BPO involved a choreographed performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring danced by school children, documented in Rhythm Is It!, and a film project with Mark-Anthony Turnage's Blood on the Floor.{{cite news | author=Martin Kettle| title=My crazy idea | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,782379,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=30 August 2002 | access-date=22 March 2007 | location=London}} He has also continued to champion contemporary music in Berlin.{{cite magazine|author=Peter G. Davis|title=German Reengineering|url=http://nymag.com/arts/classicaldance/classical/reviews/15701/|magazine=New York|date=13 February 2006|access-date=3 April 2007|archive-date=30 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210250/http://nymag.com/arts/classicaldance/classical/reviews/15701/|url-status=live}} The orchestra has established its first education department during Rattle's tenure.{{cite news | author=Tom Service | author-link=Tom Service | title=The mighty 'wuah' | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/story/0,,2076511,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=11 May 2007 | access-date=24 April 2008 | location=London | archive-date=27 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127071030/http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/story/0,,2076511,00.html | url-status=live }}

Criticism of Rattle's tenure with the Berlin Philharmonic began to appear after their first season together,{{cite news | author=Stephen Everson | title=The end of the affair | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1045683,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=20 September 2003 | access-date=30 January 2007 | location=London}} and continued in their second season.{{cite news|author1=Charlotte Higgins|author2=Ben Aris| title=Is Rattle's Berlin honeymoon over? | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1205606,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=29 April 2004 | access-date=30 January 2007 | location=London}} Rattle himself stated in 2005 that his relationship with the BPO musicians could sometimes be "turbulent", but also "never destructively so".{{cite news | author=Charlotte Higgins | title=Karaoke, wild tigers, hysteria: Rattle on his turbulent affair with the Berlin Philharmonic | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1385041,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=7 January 2005 | access-date=22 March 2007 | location=London | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100218/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/07/germany.arts | url-status=live }}

File:Rattle BPH-Rittershaus2- Wikipedia.jpg

In 2006, a new controversy began in the German press as to the quality of Rattle's concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic, with criticism from the German critic Manuel Brug in Die Welt.{{cite news | author=Manuel Brug | title=Überwältigungsmusik, aber kaum Durchdringung | url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/article215898/Ueberwaeltigungsmusik_aber_kaum_Durchdringung.html | work=Die Welt | date=11 May 2006 | language=de | access-date=17 August 2007 | archive-date=22 December 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222043945/http://www.welt.de/kultur/article215898/Ueberwaeltigungsmusik_aber_kaum_Durchdringung.html | url-status=live }} One musician who wrote to the press to defend Rattle was the pianist Alfred Brendel.{{cite news | author=Alfred Brendel| title=Criticism of Rattle is really out of tune | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/may/31/classicalmusicandopera | work=The Guardian | date=31 May 2006 | access-date=17 August 2007 | location=London}} In 2007, the BPO/Rattle recording of Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem received the Classic FM Gramophone best choral disc award.{{cite news | author=Erica Jeal | title=Batons at dawn | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/story/0,,2183736,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=5 October 2007 | access-date=22 November 2007 | location=London}}

Rattle was originally contracted to lead the BPO until 2012, but in April 2008 the BPO musicians voted to extend his contract as chief conductor for an additional ten years past the next season, to 2018.{{cite news | author=EMI Music | title=Sir Simon Rattle verlängert Vertrag mit den Berliner Philharmonikern bis 2018 | url=http://www.simon-rattle.de/sr/news/sir-simon-rattle-verl%C3%A4ngert-vertrag-mit-den-berliner-philharmonikern-bis-2018 | work=Simon Rattle website | date=29 October 2009 | access-date=19 January 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719083435/http://www.simon-rattle.de/sr/news/sir-simon-rattle-verl%C3%A4ngert-vertrag-mit-den-berliner-philharmonikern-bis-2018 | archive-date=19 July 2011 | df=dmy-all }} In January 2013, he announced his scheduled departure from the Berlin Philharmonic at the close of the 2017–2018 season.{{cite news | title=Sir Simon Rattle to step down as Berlin Philharmonic chief conductor in 2018 | url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/sir-simon-rattle-to-step-down-as-berlin-philharmonic-chief-conductor-in-2018-0 | work=Grammophone Magazine | access-date=10 January 2013 | archive-date=24 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724072934/https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/sir-simon-rattle-to-step-down-as-berlin-philharmonic-chief-conductor-in-2018-0 | url-status=live }} His final Berlin Philharmonic concert as chief conductor was at the Waldbühne on 24 June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concerts/calendar/details/51006/|title=Simon Rattle and Magdalena Kožená at the Waldbühne|publisher=Berliner Philharmoniker|access-date=2 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110131437/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concerts/calendar/details/51006/|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/berlin-orchestra-idINKBN1JL0E4|title=Rattle bids Berlin Philharmonic farewell as chief conductor|publisher=Reuters|date=25 June 2018|access-date=2 January 2022|archive-date=2 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102003604/https://www.reuters.com/article/berlin-orchestra-idINKBN1JL0E4|url-status=live}}

UNICEF appointed Rattle and the BPO as Goodwill Ambassadors in November 2007.UNICEF: [http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41808.html UNICEF appoints Berliner Philharmoniker Goodwill Ambassador] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729055724/https://www.unicef.org/media/media_41808.html |date=29 July 2020 }} 17 November 2007. He is a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.{{cite web |url=http://ejaf.com/about/our-patrons/ |title=Elton John AIDS Foundation patrons |publisher=Ejaf.com |access-date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055947/http://ejaf.com/about/our-patrons/ |url-status=live }}

Rattle made his North American debut in 1976, conducting the London Schools Symphony Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. He first conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1979 during the music directorship of Carlo Maria Giulini, and was their principal guest conductor from 1981 to 1994.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/culture-monster-blog/story/2009-11-21/simon-rattle-is-back-in-la-with-the-berlin-philharmonic|title=Simon Rattle is back in LA with the Berlin Philharmonic|author=Mark Swed|date=21 November 2009|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 March 2023|archive-date=10 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310024418/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/culture-monster-blog/story/2009-11-21/simon-rattle-is-back-in-la-with-the-berlin-philharmonic|url-status=live}} He has also guest-conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra. His New York City debut was with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1985. In 2000, Rattle was the music director of the Ojai Music Festival.

In 1993, Rattle made his conducting debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra.{{cite news|author=Allan Kozinn|title=Rattle Leads the Philadelphia in Mahler's Ninth Symphony|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3D7163CF935A25751C1A965958260|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 December 1993|access-date=30 January 2007|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100726/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/16/arts/review-music-rattle-leads-the-philadelphia-in-mahler-s-ninth-symphony.html|url-status=live}} He returned for guest conducting engagements in 1999{{cite news|author=Anthony Tommasini|title=Did Briton, Wielding Sibelius, Audition for a Job?|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E0DB1039F93BA15752C0A96F958260|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 January 1999|access-date=30 January 2007|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100727/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/28/arts/music-review-did-briton-wielding-sibelius-audition-for-a-job.html|url-status=live}} and 2000.{{cite news|author=Bernard Holland|author-link=Bernard Holland|title=A Sense of Gluttony But an Easy Surrender|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6DB173CF935A15752C0A9669C8B63|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 2000|access-date=30 January 2007|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100753/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/arts/music-review-a-sense-of-gluttony-but-an-easy-surrender.html|url-status=live}} The musical relationship between Rattle and the Philadelphia Orchestra was reported to be such that Philadelphia wanted to hire Rattle as its next music director after Wolfgang Sawallisch, but Rattle declined.{{cite news|author=Allan Kozinn|title=Top Conductors, Top Orchestras, Brahms in Common|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6DB173CF935A15752C0A9669C8B63|newspaper=The New York Times|date=30 January 2004|access-date=30 January 2007|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100753/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/arts/music-review-a-sense-of-gluttony-but-an-easy-surrender.html|url-status=live}} Rattle has continued to guest-conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra, including appearances in 2006{{cite news|author=Allan Kozinn|title=Bruckner's Seventh and Painterly Tableaus in Song|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/arts/music/09phil.html?ex=1170219600&en=494bce6a3b959154&ei=5070|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 February 2006|access-date=30 January 2007}} and the Philadelphia Orchestra's first performances of Robert Schumann's cantata Das Paradies und die Peri in November 2007.{{cite news | author=Peter Dobrin | title=Passionate about Paradise | url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/peter_dobrin/20071125_Passionate_about_Paradise.html | work=Philadelphia Inquirer | date=25 November 2007 | access-date=24 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080401075128/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/peter_dobrin/20071125_Passionate_about_Paradise.html |archive-date = 1 April 2008}}{{cite news|author=Bernard Holland|title=Repentance as the Key to Open Pearly Gates|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/arts/music/03ratt.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 December 2007|access-date=24 April 2008|archive-date=11 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211045313/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/arts/music/03ratt.html|url-status=live}}

In March 2015, the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) announced the appointment of Rattle as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of five seasons.{{cite news | author=Erica Jeal | title=Simon Rattle: 'I would have been wary about taking the job had I known about Brexit' | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/04/simon-rattle-interview-london-symphony-orchestra-brexit | work=The Guardian | date=4 August 2007 | access-date=31 August 2019 | archive-date=19 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219095510/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/04/simon-rattle-interview-london-symphony-orchestra-brexit | url-status=live }} He has recorded commercially for the LSO Live label.{{cite news | author=Erica Jeal | title=Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande CD review – luxury casting and vivid performances under Rattle and Sellars | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/oct/05/debussy-pelleas-et-melisande-cd-review-simon-rattle-lso-christian-gerhaher-magdalena-kozena | work=The Guardian | date=5 October 2007 | access-date=31 August 2019 | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100842/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/oct/05/debussy-pelleas-et-melisande-cd-review-simon-rattle-lso-christian-gerhaher-magdalena-kozena | url-status=live }} In January 2021 the LSO announced an extension of his contract to 2023. Rattle stood down as music director of the LSO at the close of the 2022–2023 season,{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Prom 56: LSO/Rattle review – a packed Albert Hall hung on every note in utter silence | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/28/prom-56-lso-rattle-review-royal-albert-hall-london | work=The Guardian | date=28 August 2023 | access-date=31 August 2023 | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100758/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/28/prom-56-lso-rattle-review-royal-albert-hall-london | url-status=live }} and now has the title of Conductor Emeritus with the LSO for life.{{cite press release | url=https://lso.co.uk/more/news/1625-sir-simon-rattle-announces-an-extension-of-his-contract-as-music-director-until-2023.html | title=Sir Simon Rattle announces an extension of his contract as Music Director until 2023 and accepts lifetime position of Conductor Emeritus thereafter | publisher=London Symphony Orchestra | date=11 January 2021 | access-date=11 January 2021 | archive-date=8 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508113055/https://lso.co.uk/more/news/1625-sir-simon-rattle-announces-an-extension-of-his-contract-as-music-director-until-2023.html | url-status=live }} His last LSO performance came on 27 August at the BBC Proms, conducting Mahler's Symphony No. 9.{{cite web | title=Prom 56: Rattle conducts Mahler's Ninth | website=BBC Music Events | date=12 June 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed9n5v | access-date=22 September 2023 | archive-date=14 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714121514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed9n5v | url-status=live }}

In 2010, Rattle first guest-conducted the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO). In January 2021, the BRSO announced the appointment of Rattle as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023–2024 season, with an initial contract of five years.{{cite press release | url=https://www.br-so.com/sir-simon-rattle-appointed-chief-conductor/ | title=Sir Simon appointed Chief Conductor | publisher=Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra | date=11 January 2021 | access-date=11 January 2021 | archive-date=8 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508113059/https://www.br-so.com/sir-simon-rattle-appointed-chief-conductor/ | url-status=dead }} His inaugurual concert as the orchestra's chief conductor took place on 21 September 2023, with a performance of Haydn's The Creation at the Herkulessaal, Munich Residenz.{{cite web | title=Rattles Einstand mit Haydns "Schöpfung" | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=22 September 2023 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/musik-muenchen-grosse-freude-rattles-einstand-mit-haydns-schoepfung-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-230921-99-285875 | language=de | access-date=22 September 2023 | archive-date=13 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313163038/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/musik-muenchen-grosse-freude-rattles-einstand-mit-haydns-schoepfung-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-230921-99-285875 | url-status=live }}

In 2019, Rattle first guest-conducted the Czech Philharmonic. In February 2024, the Czech Philharmonic announced the appointment of Rattle as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2024-2025 season, for a period of five years, with the title of 'Rafael Kubelík Conducting Chair'.{{cite press release | url=https://www.ceskafilharmonie.cz/simon-rattle-se-stava-hlavnim-hostujicim-dirigentem-ceske-filharmonie/ | title=Simon Rattle se stává hlavním hostujícím dirigentem České filharmonie | publisher=Czech Philharmonic | date=2024-02-07 | accessdate=2024-02-10 | archive-date=8 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208164838/https://www.ceskafilharmonie.cz/simon-rattle-se-stava-hlavnim-hostujicim-dirigentem-ceske-filharmonie/ | url-status=live }}{{cite press release | url=https://askonasholt.com/news/sir-simon-rattle-appointed-principal-guest-conductor-of-the-czech-philharmonic | title=Sir Simon Rattle appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic | publisher=Askonas Holt | date=2024-02-07 | accessdate=2024-02-10 | archive-date=8 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208164828/https://askonasholt.com/news/sir-simon-rattle-appointed-principal-guest-conductor-of-the-czech-philharmonic | url-status=live }}

• 1987 New Year Honours, Commander of the British Empire (CBE){{cite web | title=Simon Rattle's journey to Berlin | website=BBC NEWS | date=22 August 2001 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1503992.stm | access-date=22 September 2023 | archive-date=13 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313163037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1503992.stm | url-status=live }}
• 1994 Birthday Honours, Knight Bachelor
• 1996 Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation
• 2000 Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medallists{{cite web | title=Sir Simon Rattle | website=Royal Philharmonic Society | date=16 June 2021 | url=https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/gold-medal/simon-rattle | access-date=4 February 2022 | archive-date=4 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204123430/https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/gold-medal/simon-rattle | url-status=live }}
• 2009 Gold Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture{{cite web |url=http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/pages/posts/zlota_gloria_artis_dla_simona_rattle-183.php |title=Złota Gloria Artis dla Simona Rattle |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230921140126/http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/pages/posts/zlota_gloria_artis_dla_simona_rattle-183.php |website=mkidn.gov.pl | language=pl | date =26 September 2009 |archive-date=21 September 2023 |access-date=22 September 2023}}
• 2012 Wolf Prize in Arts Laureate in Music{{cite web | title=Simon Rattle | website=Wolf Foundation | date=11 December 2018 | url=https://wolffund.org.il/2018/12/11/sir-simon-rattle/ | language=he | access-date=4 February 2022 | archive-date=4 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204123102/https://wolffund.org.il/2018/12/11/sir-simon-rattle/ | url-status=live }}
• 2013 Léonie Sonning Music Prize{{cite web|title=Simon Rattle|website=Léonie Sonning Music Prize|date=2 May 2013|url=https://www.sonningmusik.dk/simon-rattle/?lang=en|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204133119/https://www.sonningmusik.dk/simon-rattle/?lang=en|url-status=live}}
• 2014 New Year Honours, Member of the Order of Merit (OM){{cite web | title=New Year honours 2014: the full list | website=The Guardian | date=30 December 2013 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/new-year-honours-2014-the-full-list | access-date=22 September 2023 | archive-date=11 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111204730/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/new-year-honours-2014-the-full-list | url-status=live }}
• 2016 Helpmann Award, Best Orchestral Concert of the Year{{cite web|title=Bruckner Symphony No. 8 – Australian World Orchestra|website=Australian World Orchestra|url=https://www.australianworldorchestra.com.au/product/beethoven-symphony-no-9-choral-copy/|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204124038/https://www.australianworldorchestra.com.au/product/beethoven-symphony-no-9-choral-copy/|url-status=live}}
• 2022 Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• 2025 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize{{cite web | title=Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis: Simon Rattle kurz vor seinem 70. Geburtstag geehrt | website=nmz - neue musikzeitung | date=16 January 2025 | url=https://www.nmz.de/menschen/personalia/ernst-von-siemens-musikpreis-simon-rattle-kurz-vor-seinem-70-geburtstag-geehrt | language=de | access-date=19 January 2025}}

{{see also|Simon Rattle discography}}

Rattle has conducted a wide variety of music, including some with period instruments (either actual surviving historical musical instruments or modernly made ones informed by commonly used designs and material of the time), but he is best known for his interpretations of late 19th- and early 20th-century composers such as Gustav Mahler, with a recording of Mahler's Second Symphony winning several awards on its release.{{cite magazine|last1=Brandle|first1=Lars|title=Classical Brits Win|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76|page=76|magazine=Billboard|date=23 June 2001|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819101243/https://books.google.com/books?id=bRQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} He has also championed much contemporary music, an example of this being the 1996 TV series Leaving Home, where he presents a 7-part survey of musical styles and conductors with excerpts recorded by the CBSO.

Other recordings in Berlin have included Dvořák tone poems, Mahler's Symphony No. 9 and Claude Debussy's La Mer. The Gramophone Magazine praised the latter as a "magnificent disc" and drew favourable comparisons with interpretations of the piece by Rattle's immediate predecessors, Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan. He has also worked with the Toronto Children's Chorus. Rattle and the BPO also recorded Gustav Holst's The Planets (EMI), which was the BBC Music Magazine Orchestra Choice. In addition, Rattle's acclaimed{{cite web |url=http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9724 |title=Gershwin: Porgy & Bess/Rattle – Review by Robert Levine |publisher=Classicstoday.com |access-date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129101450/http://classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9724 |url-status=live }} complete 1989 recording of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess was used as the soundtrack for the equally acclaimed{{cite web |url=http://homevideo.about.com/od/dvdreviewslong/a/PorgyBessDVDMoa.htm |title=DVD Pick: "Porgy & Bess" |author=Ivana Redwine |publisher=about.com |date=3 July 2001 |access-date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117101850/http://homevideo.about.com/od/dvdreviewslong/a/PorgyBessDVDMoa.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/may02/Porgy_DVD.htm |title=GERSHWIN Porgy and Bess Rattle DVD[IL]: Classical Reviews- May2002 MusicWeb(UK) |publisher=Musicweb-international.com |access-date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819101248/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/may02/Porgy_DVD.htm |url-status=live }} 1993 television production of the work. It was the first made-for-television production of Porgy and Bess ever presented. Rattle's 2007 recording of Johannes Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem received praise from BBC Music Magazine, as "Disc of the Month" for April 2007, "as probably the best new version of the Requiem I've heard in quite some years". Rattle and the BPO have also released recordings of Anton Bruckner's Fourth Symphony (Romantic), and Joseph Haydn's Symphonies Nos. 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 and Sinfonia Concertante.

Rattle's recording of Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem with the BPO received the Choral Performance Grammy Award in 2008. He has won two other Grammy Awards, one Choral Performance Award for a recording of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms in 2007, and another for Best Orchestral Performance for a recording of Mahler's unfinished Symphony No. 10 in 2000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060126235958/http://grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx Grammy Awards winners] Web.archive.org{{cite web | title=Simon Rattle | website=GRAMMY.com | date=23 November 2020 | url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/simon-rattle/12217 | access-date=27 May 2021 | archive-date=17 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417151725/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/simon-rattle/12217 | url-status=live }}

The French Government awarded him the honour of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 2010. Rattle was elected to the inaugural Gramophone Hall of Fame in 2012.{{cite web|title=Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)|url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/HallofFame/ArtistPage/Klemperer|publisher=Gramophone|access-date=10 April 2012|archive-date=13 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413055451/http://www.gramophone.co.uk/HallofFame/ArtistPage/Klemperer|url-status=live}}

Rattle's first marriage was to Elise Ross, an American soprano, with whom he had two sons: Sacha, who is a clarinettist, and Eliot, who is a painter.{{cite news|author=Ed Vulliamy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/aug/31/europeancapitalofculture2008.classicalmusicandopera|title=Simon Rattle: bringing Berlin home to Liverpool|work=The Observer|date=31 August 2008|access-date=24 December 2012|archive-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191331/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/aug/31/europeancapitalofculture2008.classicalmusicandopera|url-status=live}} They divorced in 1995 after 15 years of marriage. In 1996, he married his second wife,{{cite book|title=Debrett's People of Today 2005|year=2005|edition=18th|isbn=978-1-870520-10-2|publisher=Debrett's|page=1356}} Candace Allen, a US-born writer.{{cite news | author=Jan Moir | title=I hate to see myself conducting | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/03/21/bmrat21.xml | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=21 March 2003 | access-date=24 February 2007 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} This second marriage ended in 2004, and in 2008 Rattle married the Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/whats_on/listings/article603384.ece | title=Magdalena and the men in her life | work=The Times | author=Neil Fisher | date=21 October 2006 | access-date=22 November 2007 | location=London | archive-date=19 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819101406/https://www.the-tls.co.uk/ | url-status=dead }} The couple live in Berlin{{Cite web|title=British conductor Simon Rattle applies for German citizenship|date=15 January 2021|url=https://www.dw.com/en/british-conductor-simon-rattle-applies-for-german-citizenship/a-56238574|access-date=18 January 2021|website=Deutsche Welle|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117130529/https://www.dw.com/en/british-conductor-simon-rattle-applies-for-german-citizenship/a-56238574|url-status=live}} and have two sons and a daughter.{{cite news | url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/kultur/chefdirigent-rattle-nun-fuenffacher-vater | title=Chefdirigent Rattle nun fünffacher Vater | work=Berliner Zeitung | language=de | date=21 June 2014 | access-date=11 January 2015 | archive-date=29 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329144907/https://www.bz-berlin.de/kultur/chefdirigent-rattle-nun-fuenffacher-vater | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/31/simon-rattle-interview-proms-learning-music-birthright | title=Simon Rattle: 'Learning music is a birthright. And you have to start young' | work=The Guardian | author=Fiona Maddocks | author-link=Fiona Maddocks | date=31 August 2014 | access-date=11 January 2015 | archive-date=29 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329144857/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/31/simon-rattle-interview-proms-learning-music-birthright | url-status=live }}

Rattle is a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and a fan of Liverpool Football Club.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/aug/31/europeancapitalofculture2008.classicalmusicandopera|title=Liverpool gets its Rattle back|date=31 August 2008|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Ed|last=Vulliamy|author-link=Ed Vulliamy|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191331/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/aug/31/europeancapitalofculture2008.classicalmusicandopera|url-status=live}}

Rattle announced in January 2021 that he had applied for German citizenship, describing it as "an absolute necessity" for him in order to continue to work freely around the EU after Brexit.{{Cite web|agency=Reuters|date=16 January 2021|title=Simon Rattle decries Brexit as he applies for German citizenship|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/16/simon-rattle-applies-for-german-citizenship-brexit|access-date=18 January 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819101257/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/16/simon-rattle-applies-for-german-citizenship-brexit|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book | last=Hartwig | first=Angela | title=Rattle at the door | publisher=Evrei-Verl | publication-place=Berlin | date=2009 | isbn=978-3-00-028093-1 | language=de}}
• {{cite book | last=Kenyon | first=Nicholas | title=Simon Rattle | publisher=Faber and Faber | publication-place=London | date=1989 | isbn=978-0-571-14670-3}}
• {{cite book | last=Kleinert | first=Annemarie | url=http://www.bod.de/index.php?id=296&objk_id=211012# | title=Music at its Best: The Berlin Philharmonic. From Karajan to Rattle | location=Norderstedt | publisher=Books on Demand | year=2009 | isbn=978-3-8370-6361-5 | author-link=Annemarie Kleinert|ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last=Matheopoulos |first=Helena |author-link=Helena Matheopoulos |year=1982 |title=Maestro: Encounters with Conductors of Today |publisher=Harper & Row |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-015103-4 |oclc=8929684 |url=https://archive.org/details/maestroencounter00math|ref=none}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://charlierose.com/search-results/?query=rattle Simon Rattle interviews] with Charlie Rose
• {{NYTtopic|people/r/simon_rattle}}
• [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1800806,00.html "He won't play the game"] by Phillipa Ibbotson, The Guardian, 19 June 2006

{{Birmingham Symphony conductors}}

{{Berlin Philharmonic}}

{{LSO principal conductors}}

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{{portal bar|Classical music|Opera|Music}}

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