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Simon Rattle: The Making of a Maestro

Documentary providing unique insights into the working life of one of the world's most acclaimed musicians, celebrated conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

This documentary provides unique insights into the working life of one of the world's most acclaimed musicians, conductor Sir Simon Rattle. To mark his 60th birthday, we follow Rattle through a demanding year of rehearsals and performances with five different orchestras, from the South Bank to Taiwan, as he talks candidly about his life and beliefs.

Through the lens of archive footage, we explore a remarkable journey spanning four decades, from his early days with the ±«Óătv Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the tender age of 22 to his current post as chief conductor and artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic. We see how his dynamic leadership of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra made him a household name which is said to have inspired the rebuilding of a city, while he remains someone who still has his own doubts before every performance.

There are contributions from artists and friends who have worked closely with him, including violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, composer Thomas Ades, singers Roderick Williams and Mark Padmore, theatre director Peter Sellars and the managing director of the Barbican, Sir Nicholas Kenyon.

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Aug 2018 19:00
±«Óătv Four

  • Explore music by the composers featured in the documentary of conductor Sir Simon Rattle

Clips

See all clips from Simon Rattle: The Making of a Maestro (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Anton Bruckner

    Bruckner: Symphony no 7

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Brahms: Symphony no 1

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Bach: St John Passion

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • The Beatles

    Sie Liebt Dich

  • Gustav Mahler

    Mahler: Symphony no 10, Piano Reduction

    Performer: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • John Ireland

    John Ireland: Piano Concerto

    Performer: ±«Óătv Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Sibelius: Tapiola

    Performer: ±«Óătv Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Hanshin Chinese Folk & Dance Ensemble

    Spring Dawn At Yang Ming Mountain

  • Pierre Boulez

    Boulez: Notations

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Richard Wagner

    Wagner: Das Rheingold, Piano Reduction

    Performer: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • John Williams

    Hedwig's Theme

    Performer: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nic Raine.

  • Alf Edwards & Dave Phillips

    I Can't Find Brummagem

  • Michael Tippett

    Tippett: Concerto For Double String Orchestra

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • JoaquĂ­n Rodrigo

    Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Mahler: Symphony No 2

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Little Jack Little

    I Always Wanted to Waltz In Berlin

  • Gustav Mahler

    Mahler: Symphony no 5

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Thomas AdĂšs

    Ades: Asyla

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Puccini: Manon Lescaut

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

    Haydn: The Creation

    Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • German Youth Orchestra

    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde

    Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Brahms: Violin Concerto

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Featured Artist: Anne‐Sophie Mutter. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

  • George Butterworth

    George Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

Nicholas Kenyon on Simon Rattle

Nicholas Kenyon on Simon Rattle

The Barbican chief - and Rattle's official biographer -  for ±«Óătv Arts, along with archive clips from his career.

Simon Rattle on his 12 favourite composers

Simon Rattle on his 12 favourite composers
The conductor waxes lyrical about composers including Mozart, Mahler, Haydn, Stravinsky, Debussy, Brahms and Sibelius in a  for ±«Óătv Arts.

Andy King-Dabbs director of Simon Rattle: the Making of a Maestro explores the changing face of Birmingham

Andy King-Dabbs director of Simon Rattle: the Making of a Maestro explores the changing face of Birmingham
Andy's blog where he .

Credits

Participant Sir Simon Rattle
Narrator James Naughtie
Interviewed Guest Anne-Sophie Mutter
Interviewed Guest Peter Sellars
Interviewed Guest Thomas Ades
Interviewed Guest Roderick Williams
Interviewed Guest Mark Padmore
Interviewed Guest Nicholas Kenyon
Orchestra The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestra OAE
Orchestra CBSO
Director Andy King-Dabbs
Executive Producer Mark Cooper
Executive Producer Helen Mansfield

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