Rattle, Simon (1955– )

English conductor, principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) 1979–98. He built the CBSO into a world-class orchestra, with a core repertoire of early-20th-century music; he also commissioned new works. A popular and dynamic conductor, he achieves a characteristically clear and precise sound. In 2002 he was appointed artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rattle was assistant conductor with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra 1974–76 and with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra 1977–78. He was the driving force behind the funding and building of a new concert hall for the CBSO, Symphony Hall, completed in 1991.