Intermezzo

Rattle doesn't deny LSO rumours

It seems Simon Rattle would rather disclose how often he changes his underpants than reveal whether he's heading for the LSO.

But in a Der Tagesspiegel interview published today he declines two separate opportunities to shoot the story down, giving the clearest indication yet that the rumours are true.

To a mention of London, Rattle responds - in jocular fashion, we have to assume -  "It must be true. After all, it was in the Times."

Interviewer Frederik Hanssen persists, asking if there are any firm plans. "The only thing that is certain about the future is that we will carry on living in Berlin," says Rattle. "This was decided after family discussion. Nothing else is settled. I'm not about to start a new job the day after my Berlin farewell concert. Relationships can't be changed like underwear."

Rattling around

The Rattle shortage is over. Yet more Rattle will be shipped over from Berlin next spring to fill the gaping Rattle-shaped hole in UK concert schedules. By the time he takes over the LSO we shall probably all be sick of him, but meanwhile yet another UK appearance has been added to Simon Rattle's 2014 schedule.

On 10 June he conducts the Apollo Chamber Orchestra at Cadogan Hall in a gala fundraising concert for Apollo Music Projects. This is a commendable charity which brings orchestral music to school children in some of London's poorest areas, providing them with an experience they might otherwise never have. Tickets cost £18 to £90, with the most expensive lending an opportunity to rub shoulders with Sir Simon after the concert.

More Rattle

If you balked at the prices of the Berlin Philharmonic's London concerts, you can get to hear Simon Rattle for a lot less in Birmingham next year. 

On Sunday 11 May 2014 he conducts the CBSO in a special charity concert to support the CBSO Benevolent Fund. Tickets are £20 to £50 and go on sale on 19 December (17 December for CBSO Friends).

Berlin Philharmonic come to London

Simon Rattle marks his 60th birthday by bringing the Berlin Philharmonic over for five London dates in February 2015.

On the menu are a complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies (in honour of the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth), Mahler's Symphony No.2 and Helmut Lachenmann's Tableau.

Priority booking for Barbican and Southbank members opens on 9 December, with public booking on 11 December. Ticket prices are [....sit down first....] £25 to £95.

When the Berliners last visited, in 2011, tickets sold out in minutes, so get your skates on.

The full programme:

• Tuesday 10 February 2015, 7.30pm Barbican Hall Sibelius Symphony No.1 Sibelius Symphony No.2
• Wednesday 11 February 2015, 7.30pm Barbican Hall Sibelius Symphony No.3 Sibelius Violin Concerto Sibelius Symphony No.4 with Leonidas Kavakos violin
• Thursday 12 February 2015, 7.30pm Barbican Hall Sibelius Symphony No.5 Sibelius Symphony No.6 Sibelius Symphony No.7
• Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February 2015, 7.30pm Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall Lachenmann Tableau Mahler Symphony 2 (Resurrection) with Kate Royal and Magdalena Kožená 

Rattle for LSO

It appears that the first round of conductor bingo is in the bag.

Sir Simon Rattle "is understood to have accepted the post of principal conductor of the LSO. According to industry sources, Rattle, who is married to Magdalena Kozená, the Czech soprano, will succeed the Russian-born Valery Gergiev in the role. The LSO refused to confirm or deny the rumours."(Richard Morrison, The Times)

Gergiev begins his new job with the Munich Philharmonic in 2015. Rattle's contract with the Berlin Philharmonic runs to 2018, but presumably he could manage two orchestras for a while if he gave up some of his other commitments.

Simon Rattle to leave Berlin Philharmonic

But not quite yet.

Sir Simon announced to the orchestra earlier today that he won't seek reappointment when his current contract expires in 2018.

The timing leaves the Berlin Philharmonic plenty of time to find a replacement (and Sir Simon to find a new job, assuming he wants one).

*UPDATE* - Berlin Philharmonic Press Release:

"In 2018 I will have been with the orchestra for 16 years. Before this I was chief conductor in Birmingham for 18 years. In 2018 I will be nearly 64 years old. As a Liverpool boy, it is impossible not to think of the Beatles’ question, “Will you still need me...when I’m 64?” and I am sure that then it will be time for somebody else to take on the magnificent challenge that is the Berliner Philharmoniker."

"This was not an easy decision. I love this orchestra and therefore wanted to tell them my decision as early as possible. I deeply hope that this will give them enough time to start new plans. I look forward with great pleasure to our next five years together and hopefully many years afterwards. I am thankful for the time that we have spent together so far."