In 1999, Sir Simon Rattle was appointed as successor to Claudio Abbado as the Berliner Philharmoniker’s principal conductor. He gave his first concert as principal conductor on 7 September 2002, leading performances of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no.5 and Asyla by Thomas Adès, a “spicy mix of traditional and modern” (The Guardian). These performances received incredible reviews from the press worldwide and the Mahler 5 recording released at that time won many awards, being one of his most successful albums so far.

This recording is released on vinyl for the very first time.

“Rattle brings a real sense of structural cohesion and an apposite lightness of touch to passages routinely overweighted in the great performances of the past. The finale, deft, vigorous and full of joy, is sure to impress.” – Gramophone

Live recording: 7-10.IX.2002, Philharmonie, Berlin

Producer: Stephen Johns

Balance engineers: Mike Clements, Graham Kirkby & Andy Beer

Technical engineers: Graham Kirkby & Andy Beer

Original cover artwork