The British conductor Simon Rattle led the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for a fruitful 19 years, after taking over from Claudio Abbado as chief conductor in 1999. Together, conductor and orchestra produced scores of memorable performances and, of course, recordings. Here are seven of the finest of the latter, complete with the BBC Music Magazine verdicts at the time.
Mahler: Symphony No. 10
Warner Classics 5034202
Rattle and the BPO perform Mahler's final, unfinished symphony.
‘One feels profoundly grateful to Rattle for his part in bringing alive this intriguing symphony.’ Read our full review.
Ravel: Mother Goose
Warner Classics 264 1972
‘Rattle’s first recording of Ravel's Mother Goose was superlative. However, this second rendering is, if anything, better, taking full advantage of the Berlin Phil’s exceptional colours.' Review: Ravel/Rattle/BPO
You can hear Ravel's Mother Goose at the 2024 BBC Proms. It's being performed by Rattle's old orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra, for Prom 43.
Brahms: Symphonies Nos 1-4
Warner Classics 267 2542
There are many fine recordings of the Brahms symphonies in the recorded catalogue. These, by Rattle and the BPO, deserve to be in contention among the finest.
‘The playing is never less than superb, with every section of the orchestra ideally responsive.’ Review: Brahms/Rattle/BPO.
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1
Warner Classics 457 8152
‘In general, Simon Rattle’s Schoenberg is more the voluptuous late Romantic than the bogeyman of popular legend.’ Review: Schoenberg/Rattle/BPO.
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Warner Classics 952 9692
Another final, unfinished symphonic utterance, as Rattle and the Berliners tackle Bruckner's mighty Ninth, in the four-movement version completed after the composer's death. ‘Rattle’s interpretation… encompasses the full gamut of emotions from tenderness and nostalgia to some amazingly apocalyptic climaxes.’
Rachmaninov: The Bells; Symphonic Dances
Warner Classics 984 5192
‘This version of Rachmaninov's Bells may be unsurpassable … The three soloists are superb … Mikhail Petrenko's bass is prefaced and mirrored by the most human cor anglais solo I've ever heard … a remarkable achievement.' Review: Rachmaninov: The Bells
Schumann: Symphonies 1-4
Berliner Philharmoniker recordings BPHR140011
Another superb set of symphonies from the core Romantic repertoire - this time the Schumann four, from the exuberant springlike First via the nervy, Beethovenian Second, onto the joyous, swinging 'Rhenish' and beyond. ‘These are predictably fine performances, with well-judged tempos throughout., and moments such as the pianissimo fugato in the slow movement of Symphony No. 2 are spellbinding.’
Review: Schumann / Rattle / BPO
RELATED ARTICLES