Sir Simon Rattle Extends BRSO Contract Through 2033

Sir Simon Rattle has extended his contract as Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Chorus by five years, effective with the 2028-29 concert season. The renewal keeps him at the helm of both ensembles through 2033.

The announcement secures the leadership of one of Europe's most closely watched conductor-orchestra partnerships for the better part of the next decade. Rattle, who turned 70 this year, has led the Munich-based ensembles since the start of the 2023-24 season.

What did BR's leadership say?

Dr. Katja Wildermuth, Director General of Bayerischer Rundfunk, framed the extension as a gain for the broadcaster, its audiences and the wider music world. "The fact that we can continue our journey with Sir Simon Rattle for another five years is wonderful news for the Bayerischer Rundfunk, for our audiences, and for the international music world – and it fills me personally with great joy," Wildermuth said.

She credited the conductor with shaping both ensembles through "artistic charisma, passion, and a tireless spirit of discovery," and highlighted his work beyond the podium: his commitment to inspiring young people to develop a passion for music and enabling their participation in cultural life.

"In doing so, he not only strengthens the international reputation of our ensembles but also reinforces their mission to bring music into the heart of society," Wildermuth said.

How did Rattle respond?

The conductor's own statement departed from the usual formula of contract-renewal announcements. "There is an accepted language for contract renewal, but I find that I cannot bring myself to write it! For me, it's simple: I love these musicians and I have never been happier," Rattle said.

He recounted a message from the veteran conductor Herbert Blomstedt, who sent him a video greeting for his 70th birthday. In it, Blomstedt said he hoped Rattle would live to his age, so that he could have even more time conducting the orchestra.

"It's a little beyond the terms of this contract, or even normal human possibility, but as usual, he is totally emotionally correct! I await these next years with impatience and joy," Rattle said.

Blomstedt, still active on the podium well into his tenth decade, set a benchmark that the new contract, running to 2033, cannot quite match — a point Rattle made with evident affection.

What has Rattle achieved since 2023?

Since taking up the position of Chief Conductor at the start of the 2023-24 season, Rattle has set new artistic benchmarks with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, according to the announcement. His work with the ensemble has spanned:

• interpretations of the classical repertoire described as groundbreaking;
• contemporary music projects singled out as outstanding;
• acclaimed tours and performances on international stages.

The conductor has also expanded the organization's international profile. Performances across Europe and Asia have been broadcast and recorded, extending the ensembles' reach well beyond Munich.

Why does the extension matter?

A five-year commitment through 2033 gives the BRSO and the BR Chorus unusual stability at the top at a moment when music directorships across major orchestras change hands with growing frequency. For Rattle, who built his reputation over decades in Birmingham, Berlin and London before arriving in Munich, the contract signals that he intends to keep his most significant musical home with the Bavarian ensembles for the foreseeable future.

The coming seasons will test whether the partnership can build on its first two years — with the tours, broadcasts and contemporary projects of the Rattle era now guaranteed a runway through the end of the decade.