The British conductor Sir Simon Rattle has signed a 10-year contract as artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He takes up the baton in September next year after winning a bitter struggle with Berlin politicians over the control and financing of the orchestra.
"Rattle at the head of the orchestra will not only bring great artistic success, but also courageous musical concepts that will give a new pulse to the city of Berlin," said the city's cultural minister, Ms Adrienne Goehler.
"What takes a long time is always worth it," she remarked, alluding to the months of disagreement between Rattle and Berlin.
He refused to sign his contract until the city agreed to grant the orchestra complete financial and artistic independence, as well as a pay-rise for the orchestra's musicians. But Berlin is DM68 billion (£27 billion) in debt and politicians want to trim the city's cultural budget, which currently subsidises three opera houses and seven orchestras.
Rattle spent 20 successful years at the helm of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, turning it into a world-class orchestra. He takes over in Berlin from the ailing Italian conductor, Claudio Abbado, who was the successor to Herbert von Karajan in 1989.
