BBC Documentaries

Simon Rattle: The Making of a Maestro (2015x42)

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In the first television biography of the celebrated conductor Sir Simon Rattle for 15 years, this documentary provides unique insights into the working life of one of the world's most acclaimed musicians. 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 BBC 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 Adès, singers Roderick Williams and Mark Padmore, theatre director Peter Sellars and the managing director of the Barbican, Sir Nicholas Kenyon.