The piece was the climax of Sir Simon Rattle's first concert as artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in September.

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Its players are drawn from the ranks of the local opera orchestra, as the Berlin Philharmonic's are not, so they have an extra source of income.

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In 1953, he made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic, becoming the youngest conductor to lead that orchestra.

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Before Welser-Moest became a conductor, he worked as a trained violinist with some of the most respected orchestras around the world, including the philharmonic orchestras of Vienna and Berlin, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, and the Orchestras of Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles and New York.

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Philadelphia Orchestra director Eugene Ormandy refused to shake Karajan's hand when the Berlin Philharmonic toured the U.S. in 1955.

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Currently, he's in the midst of a 3-year appointment as Artistic Partner with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and he's the Pianist-in-Residence at the Berlin Philharmonic.

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There are always sensitive political considerations involved in taking over an orchestra - but Rattle's successful campaign to improve the salaries at the Berlin Philharmonic before even picking up the baton is likely to stand him in good stead.

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