Sir Simon Rattle

The London Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Simon Rattle as its Music Director. He will take up his appointment in September 2017. His debut release on LSO Live, Schumann's Das Paradies und die Peri, championed a piece that Sir Simon called 'the greatest masterpiece you've never heard'. He continues on LSO Live in 2017 with the release of Debussy's only opera Pelléas et Mélisande, which received widespread acclaim in concert and features an all-star cast of soloists. 

As Music Director he will be involved in every aspect of the LSO’s work as well as championing music and music education. He says of the Orchestra: 'During my work with the LSO over the last years, I noticed that despite the Orchestra’s long and illustrious history, they almost never refer to it. Instead, refreshingly, they talk about the future, what can they make anew, what can they improve, how can they reach further into the community. In terms of musical excellence, it is clear that the sky's the limit, but equally important, in terms of philosophy, they constantly strive to be a twenty-first century orchestra. We share a dream in which performing, teaching and learning are indivisible, with wider dissemination of our art at its centre. I cannot imagine a better or more inspiring way to spend my next years, and feel immensely fortunate to have the LSO as my musical family and co-conspirators.' 

Listen to an exclusive preview on Apple Music: