Simon Rattle: ‘We’re blowing smoke signals’

Against enormous odds, the London Symphony Orchestra and music director Sir Simon Rattle succeeded this week in recording the five Beethoven piano concertos with Krystian Zimerman in LSO St Luke’s.

Slippedisc was meant to be there, only to be prevented by Covid rules.

DG had the cover image ready before the recording was complete and the streamed version is already out online.

Because of social distancing regulations, the orchestra was spaced right across the Jerwood Hall at LSO St Luke’s. Using protective screens, the string players sat 1.5 metres apart and woodwind and brass 2 metres. “Sometimes it feels like blowing smoke signals over a mountain,” comments Rattle. “But there’s something about the effort that almost suits Beethoven. The struggle is part of his style.”