Simon Rattle: Karajan said an orchestra is like an English garden – water and weed it

Simon Rattle: Karajan said an orchestra is like an English garden – water and weed it

News

norman lebrecht

November 30, 2023

In an overlong and generally unrevealing video interview for Bavarian Radio and the EBU, the BR conductor Simon Rattle comes up with this tiny gem:

‘I sat in the dressing room with Karajan in his later years and he said: “An orchestra is like one of your English gardens, really beautiful things. You have to water them and you have to weed them. And you have to look after it (sic) every day. Never forget that.”

‘This is an important thing. We have to do all kinds of dental hygiene. We have to look after people, both musically and emotionally.’

Comments

  • John Kelly says:

    Fritz Reiner – weeder in chief………….

  • Tim says:

    Unfortunately Karajan was in a different league to Rattle!! Rattle was very dismissive of the maestro in other interviews particularly regarding conducting with his eyes closed as he couldn’t be bothered to find out why..

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Sensitive fellow, isn’t he!!

  • 5566hh says:

    He has said that many times in previous interviews

  • Corno di Caccia says:

    Ah, the Rattle bashers are back. If they had an iota of the man’s talent, they’d be worth listening to.

  • Frank says:

    ‘Unrevealing’? Rattle reveals that Karajan was ‘a tough nut’.

  • Don Antonio says:

    I doubt the comment ever taking place, it seems most out of character. However, most orchestras should consider weeding their podium….

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