Sir Simon Rattle brings Berlin orchestra to London for 60th birthday bash

Sir Simon Rattle will mark his 60th birthday with a week-long residency in London, including the performance of a complete cycle of symphonies by Sibelius.

The conductor will bring his orchestra, the Berliner Philharmoniker, for a series of concerts shared between the Barbican and Southbank Centre, augmented by a programme of education with young London musicians.

The event, in February 2015, follows a similar collaboration between the two venues in 2011, and will come three years before he is set to stand down as chief conductor of the orchestra.

There have been rumours he will return to Britain to take up positions, possibly including principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. The Barbican concerts will feature violinist Leonidas Kavakos performing Sibelius works. Southbank will host Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, with soloists including Rattle’s wife, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.

Across both venues, a mixed-ability orchestra aged seven to 25 will explore music the Philharmoniker will play. Sir Simon said: “Coming to London with the Berliner Philharmoniker feels like a homecoming, especially because we are performing repertoire that I love.

“I am thrilled our friends at Southbank Centre and the Barbican are again working together. We will celebrate the great work these centres do in bringing music to the next generation.”