Around the Music Festival

On March 9th, the Staatskapelle Berlin (Berlin State Opera Orchestra) awarded Simon Rattle the title of Honorary Conductor. Rattle made his State Opera debut in 2008, conducting Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande”. The award recognizes their “passionate artistic collaboration” over the past 18 years.

On the evening of the 9th, Rattle conducted Mahler’s Symphony No.2 “Resurrection” at the State Opera. After the performance, surrounded by the orchestra, choir, and soloists, the award ceremony was held, with Berlin’s Cultural Affairs Councillor Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Artistic Director Elisabeth Sobotka, and General Music Director Christian Thielemann on stage.

Over the past 18 years, Rattle has conducted 10 operas, six of which are works by Janáček, beginning with “From the House of the Dead” in 2011 and concluding the cycle with “The Cunning Little Vixen”, which began at the end of February.

PHOTO：Staatsoper Unter den Linden　/　Peter Adamik