Sir Simon Rattle Named Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic

“My relationship with the Czech Philharmonic began already when I was eight or nine years old," Rattle said. "My parents gave me pocket money so I could buy recordings, and I dug into the Supraphon catalogue...that was when I discovered how unique the orchestra sounds, and especially the character of the woodwinds and the special quality of the strings. I felt like I had grown up with the Czech Philharmonic."

"But it was many years before I conducted that orchestra for the first time. And when that finally happened in 2019, it seemed terribly natural to me, as if I had had been standing before it since time immemorial. I fell in love with their cordiality and with their typically Czech dark humor. I instantly felt connected to the players, and I told myself: this is truly worthwhile."

"Simon Rattle is a huge artistic asset for the Czech Philharmonic," said David Mareček, the orchestra's CEO. "Besides Czech music, he will work with the orchestra on Haydn, Schumann, Elgar, and French composers. I think that will greatly expand our repertoire and grow the orchestra’s artistic potential."