Dobrin: Rattle And Berlin Still Finding Themselves

Though there wee other high-appeal concerts in Philadelphia Sunday, Peter Dobrin naturally went to hear Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. “What’s more interesting at this point in the green relationship between orchestra and conductor – Rattle took his position a year ago – is that it’s still not clear whether their respective strengths will add up to anything resembling synergy. Berlin is a perfection machine; Rattle is a supremely inspiring musician with a somewhat less than perfect baton technique. Someday this might be a great match. So far it’s not, at least not consistently.”