Simon Rattle Professions : Conductor Born : January 19, 1955 Browse All Authors Top 29 quotes by Simon Rattle In England, unless I am mistaken, I think some of the politicians who love classical music and opera are a bit loath to be seen there in case people think it is elitist. That is a real shame because it also means we are not allowing our politicians a hinterland that an earlier generation, a Denis Healey, would have taken for granted. Simon Rattle i-am music love people I was thrilled that Sadiq Khan was so in support of the idea of culture being at the centre of a city and the idea that it is everyone's right. It can't be a matter of privilege or chance. It should be something everyone can have in their life, and that means knowing what it is. Simon Rattle city support life culture I've always loved French music. My parents adored it; my father played it on the piano. Simon Rattle loved parents music father Germans have an understanding of history and cannot allow themselves to forget it. It may be a curse, but in some ways, it's a blessing. It makes them cautious. Simon Rattle understanding blessing forget history American economists can't understand the German fear of inflation and the effects of inflation when dealing with the world economic crisis. They wonder why Germany pursues such a different course - 'Why can't they agree with us?' I would have thought it was fairly obvious. Simon Rattle thought understand fear world As a nation, we English tend to be self-deprecating, looking down on ourselves. We're insular but also flexible, whereas in Germany, it's a case of besser wissen - we know better. That's very Deutsch. People are never frightened to tell you what you're doing wrong, in a way that would never happen in England. Simon Rattle looking better you people The necessity for rules and strictness is a way of dealing with an enormously powerful impulse: Germans are among the most emotional people on the planet. Maybe it has to do with the fact that, as a nation, they are always drawn back to nature and the forest. Simon Rattle forest nature people way I think the English are an unbelievably musical nation and always have been. Simon Rattle english nation think always 'Pelleas et Melisande' is one of the saddest and most upsetting operas ever written. If you love the opera as I do, then you love it to pieces, obsessively. Simon Rattle then you opera love Similar Authors Bruno Walter conductor Arturo Toscanini conductor Artur Rodzinski conductor Anton Seidl conductor Andre Kostelanetz conductor Bernard Haitink conductor All Authors