Conductor Sir Simon Rattle

Sir Simon Rattle

A preview of our concerts featuring the outstanding British maestro Sir Simon Rattle, former music director of both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic, and incumbent chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Start watching now

About Sir Simon Rattle

Sir Simon Rattle, born in Liverpool and educated at the Royal Academy of Music, is a highly accomplished conductor and Music Director. His remarkable career spans several decades and is marked by significant contributions to classical music.

From 1980 to 1998, Sir Simon served as the Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In 1990, he was appointed as the orchestra's Music Director, solidifying his influential role. Later, in 2002, he took on the prestigious position of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the renowned Berliner Philharmoniker, which he held until the conclusion of the 2017-18 season.

In September 2017, Sir Simon assumed the role of Music Director with the esteemed London Symphony Orchestra, a position he will hold until the end of the 2023-24 season, after which he will become the orchestra's Conductor Emeritus. Additionally, starting from the 2023-24 season, he will take up the esteemed role of Chief Conductor with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in Munich.

Sir Simon Rattle's influence extends beyond his orchestral engagements. He is a Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and serves as the Founding Patron of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Throughout his career, he has recorded over 70 albums for renowned labels like EMI (now Warner Classics), receiving numerous prestigious international awards for his exceptional recordings. Notable releases include works by Stravinsky, Berlioz, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Rachmaninov.

Passionate about music education, Sir Simon has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives. His collaboration with the Berliner Philharmoniker resulted in the innovative education program Zukunft@Bphil, recognized with the Comenius Prize, Schiller Special Prize, Golden Camera, and Urania Medal. He and the orchestra were appointed International UNICEF Ambassadors, a first for an artistic ensemble. In 2019, Sir Simon launched the LSO East London Academy, a free program nurturing the musical talents of young individuals aged 11 to 18.

Sir Simon Rattle's outstanding contributions have earned him prestigious personal honors, including a knighthood in 1994 and membership in the Order of Merit. He received the Order of Merit in Berlin in 2018 and was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 2019.

In the 2022-23 season, Sir Simon conducts captivating performances with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Staatskapelle Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Notable highlights include Mozart's Idomeneo at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Gerard McBurney's production of Berg's Wozzeck at the Aix en Provence Festival. Additionally, he will lead the London Symphony Orchestra on tours to Japan, South Korea, and Australia, enchanting audiences worldwide with his exceptional artistry.

Discover the performances of Sir Simon Rattle

Discover the Symphony Family of Orchestras

Choose your subscription plan

Frequently Asked
Questions

What is Symphony.live?

Symphony.live is a video streaming platform committed to uniting the world’s orchestras. We believe in demystifying the wonderful world of classical music, striving to make it more approachable for diverse audiences through innovative viewing experiences. Our growing family of orchestras and their stories are at the forefront of everything we do. We curate a diverse array of concerts, playlists, in-depth explorations, and more. Our family of orchestras includes The Cleveland Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and others. This is your chance to get closer than ever to the music you love!

How does the free trial work?

For a 7-day free trial, curious users can try Symphony.live for free. During these 7 days, you can enjoy all of our content in full - and with no strings attached. During the trial period, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to join us or not, so feel free to cancel at any time. There are two types of subscriptions we offer: monthly ($6,99/month) and annual ($49,99/year). 

Note: prices may vary per country.

How/where can I watch Symphony.live?

With Symphony.live, you can watch anywhere, anytime. As well as accessing online through Symphony.live, you can take your favorite concert experiences with you wherever you go, thanks to our mobile apps for iOS and Android.

You can also watch directly on your television via Roku, Android TV,  Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, and on recent Samsung and LG TV sets.

Currently, we are available in the following locations:

(Europe:) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom;

(Americas:) Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States of America;

(Asia-Pacific:) Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea;

Note: more platforms and regions will be added soon.

What content does Symphony.live offer?

We would like to think there is something for everyone at Symphony.live. Whether you're a history buff looking to explore some of history's greatest musical minds, a connoisseur of the concert hall looking for your favorite performance, or simply looking to throw some relaxing classical music on in the background while you work, we’ve got you covered. From exclusive concert performances to deep-dive documentaries and our very own Close Up series, we ensure the classical music fan never runs out of content to watch. Plus, our hard-working team of experts regularly curates hand-picked playlists for every mood you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re in the mood for Vivaldi or Zimmer, you will never get bored; we are constantly revamping our collection with new music!

What quality does Symphony.live offer?

We understand the importance of experiencing classical music in mint condition. To help with your immersive experience, we always strive to provide you with the highest quality possible. We also have a selection of 5.1 digital surround sound available. Moreover, through our Wolfgang collaboration, select concert videos come with captions, enriching your viewing experience by providing a deeper understanding of the beautiful music on your screen.

How many devices can stream simultaneously?

You can stream Symphony.live on two devices simultaneously.

How can I cancel?

You can cancel at any time, directly from your profile page on the Symphony.live website.

How can I contact Symphony.live if I need account support and/or troubleshooting?

If you need support about your account, billing details, or encounter problems, please go to our help & support section or send a mail to support@symphony.live