Sir Simon Rattle has been appointed Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, a role he assumes on 2017. Rattle, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, is currently Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, a post he has held since 2002 and which he will relinquish when his contract expires in 2018. Rattle will be the second conductor to have held the top job with both orchestras – Claudio Abbado was the LSO’s Principal Conductor from 1977 to 1988 and the BPO’s from 1989 to 2002.

Rattle will remain resident in Berlin, where his children attend school, but will spend four months a year in London.