(3/3/15): As nice as it was to think about, Rattle has accepted the London Symphony Orchestra's offer to become their next music director, starting in 2017.
It's almost unbelievable to think about, but speculation has been been slowly building that Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, could actually become the next music director of the New York Philharmonic, replacing Alan Gilbert who has already announced his departure at the end of his contract in 2017. Aside from being one of the world's most engaging and dynamic conductors, Rattle's arrival in New York would be a major game changer, completing the balance shift of leading music directors to this side of the Atlantic and establishing New York as the go-to city for classical music in this country (as if it wasn't already.)
Still, there are almost as many reasons why Rattle wouldn't accept the NY Phil job as why he would. Among them:
Reasons Why He Would:
- Rattle's tenure in Berlin ends in 2018, one year after Gilbert's departure.
- The NY Phil has already committed to building a new hall, which Rattle has previously said is a prerequisite for him to consider positions in London or elsewhere.
- Rattle and Gilbert have had a close relationship for years, with Gilbert regularly guest conducting the Berlin Phil.
- Gilbert has set the table for Rattle, a noted new music specialist, with both the CONTACT! New Music Series and the NY Phil Biennial.
- The NY Phil has set the gold standard for education programs in this country with its Young People's Concerts, a touchstone of Rattle's career in both Birmingham and Berlin.
- Being in New York would give Rattle ready access to the Met Opera, where he last conducted in 2010.
- It would also allow Rattle to pursue outside-the-box projects with Lincoln Center, as he did during this season's White Light Festival.
Reasons Why He Wouldn't:
- Rattle has never conducted the NY Phil. Not once.
- Rattle recently turned 60, which would make his appointment counter to the recent youth trend among American music directors.
- Taking on the NY Phil would be a serious downgrade from Berlin, in all ways but in salary.
- Rattle has never expressed any sincere desire to live in the U.S.
- The NY Phil's new hall won't be ready until 2021, at the earliest.
- Rattle would be in constant competition with the endless parade of top flight orchestras appearing at Carnegie Hall.
- The Phil's financial house is in disarray, with mounting deficits and a forthcoming contract negotiation in 2017 that will most likely prove contentious.
What do you think? Will Rattle embrace the opportunity of putting his stamp on America's oldest orchestra – much as Seidl, Mahler, Toscanini, and Bernstein did before him – or will he balk at the too-numerous obstacles? Share your thoughts below.