Art | Culture

How can music change a life?

Bernhard Neuhoff in conversation with Sir Simon Rattle
Tuesday, 27.05.2025
BR Astrid Ackermann
BR Astrid Ackermann

Music has the unique ability to penetrate deep into our souls and touch us in places that remain inaccessible to words. It awakens emotions and memories, transports us to other worlds and overcomes supposed differences. In doing so, it creates community - even across cultural and social boundaries. Music journalist Bernhard Neuhoff will talk to star conductor Sir Simon Rattle about the formative and transformative power of music.

Sir Simon Rattle, born in Liverpool in 1955 and educated at the Royal Academy of Music in London, is one of the most influential conductors of our time. Following his celebrated time with the Berliner Philharmoniker, he is now passionately dedicated to his role as chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) in Munich.

What does it mean to him to dedicate his life to music? How have encounters with music and musicians shaped his personal development?

Bernhard Neuhoff is known for his in-depth interviews and subtle questions. In this interview, he will not only ask Rattle about his career path and artistic convictions, but also about how music can change people at crucial moments.
can support and inspire him. Which works accompany Rattle in difficult and joyful phases of his life? What does he expect from his musicians and what role does the audience play for him? And how can music be used to fulfil social responsibility?

An evening that will delight music lovers and the curious alike - full of personal stories, exciting perspectives and, of course, music. We are delighted that members of the BRSO will be framing the event.

Please note: The interview will be held in English!

Cooperation with:

Mozart Society Munich e. V.

Programme of the event:

2025_05_27_Rattle_Flyer

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

19.00 Clock Admission (no snack sales!)

7.30 pmGreeting

Anne SchätzChairwoman of the Mozart Society

Munich e.V.

How can music change a life?

  • Bernhard Neuhoff,

Head of the programme editorial department of BR Klassik

  • Sir Simon Rattle,

Chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Music:

W. A. Mozart: Quintett Es-Dur KV 452

21.00 hrsConclusion with drinks and canapés

Wir danken den Musikern aus dem Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks:
Stefan Schilli (Oboe)
Christopher Corbett (Klarinette)
Carsten Duffin (Horn)
Susanne Sonntag (Fagott)
Lukas Kuen (Piano)

Other current events

Transformation theologisch gedeutet
Monday, 24.11. - Wednesday, 26.11.2025
Erzbistum Paderborn/Isabella Maria Struck
Missbrauch aufdecken und erinnern: das Paderborner Mahnmal
Akademiegespräch mit Reinhold Harnisch, Christoph Brech und Msgr. Dr. Michael Bredeck
Wednesday, 26.11.2025
Die astrophysikalische Forschung zu Exoplaneten
Wednesday, 26.11.2025
Wikimedia Commons
Literatur als Therapie
Erich Garhammer trifft Rilke-Biograf Manfred Koch
Thursday, 04.12.2025

From the event archive

Being there is not everything. We document our events - free of charge for you - as text, audio or video to give the lectures and discussions a higher reach.

Heike Steinweg/Suhrkamp Verlag
Literarischer Abend mit Nora Bossong
24.11.2025
Wikimedia Commons
Kathedral-Bau im 19. und 21. Jahrhundert als Konstruktion von Geschichte und Identität
22.11.2025
CC BY-SA 3.0, A. Delesse (Prométhée) Wikimedia Commons
Akademiegespräch am Mittag mit Prof. Dr. Ursula Münch und Marco Wanderwitz
12.11.2025

Many more interesting topics

Being there is not everything. We document our events - free of charge for you - as text, audio or video to give the lectures and discussions a higher reach.

You can find the presentations of past events in our media library.