There was some debate here, IIRC, when the announcement was made that Sir
Simon is to take over in Berlin in 2001 (don't recall the exact date).

For those who have only encountered him on record and find some of his
recordings disappointing and wonder if his reputation isn't overstated
I offer the following thoughts:

1) anyone who has heard broadcasts of any of his Mahler 2s or 7s, for
instance, will recognise that his understanding of the music and command
of the idiom is incrasing with maturity.

2) speaking of which, consider what we know on record of the two men whom
many (not Classic CD perhaps) would consider the two greatest conductors
of the century: Wilhelm Furtwa"ngler and Arturo Toscanini.

Toscanini was born in 1867 and made his first recordings AFAIK (corrections
welcome) in 1920 and 1921 in Camden while on tour with the Las Scala
Orchestra.  He was 53.

Furtwa"ngler was bron in 1886 and made his first recordings in 1926, four
years after taking over the BPO on the death of Nikisch.  At the time of
the recordings he was 40.

But the bulk of the recorded legacy of both conductors comes from the
mid-late 1930s, 40s and early 50s.  When Toscanini was in his 60s and above
and Furtwa"ngler in his 50s.

Rattle was born in 1955 and will be 46 when he takes over in Berlin.
Arguably his finest years are yet to come and, judging by what I've herad
of his recent performances, the BPO made absolutely the right choice.

Deryk Barker
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