Bust honouring our ambassador Sir Simon Rattle CBE unveiled at the Barbican Music Library
The bust was sculpted by artist Frances Segelman and has been gifted to Help Musicians
A bust of conductor Sir Simon Rattle, sculpted in 2021 as part of a Help Musicians fundraising event, has been unveiled at the Barbican Music Library.
Sir Simon is rated as one of the world’s leading conductors and is a proud Help Musicians Ambassador. His career achievements include his time as music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1980 – 1998), as well as the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (2002−2018).
Thursday 15 June 2023 marks Sir Simon’s final concert as London Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director, a position he has held since 2017. From this time onwards he will become Conductor Emeritus of the LSO, a lifetime honour, before taking up the position of Chief Conductor with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in Munich.
The bust itself was originally sculpted with clay in September 2021 by artist Frances Segelman (Lady Petchey), a sculptor who has garnered acclaim for her busts of royalty and celebrity personalities, including Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Dame Joan Collins.
Sir Simon spent an evening in Frances’ company at a Help Musicians fundraising event at the newly refurbished Garrison Chapel at the Chelsea Barracks, to a backdrop of music performed by harpist Catrin Finch and her Ensemble.
The artwork was then made into a bronze before being very kindly gifted to Help Musicians by Sir Jack and Lady Petchey.
To recognise Sir Simon’s new role as the LSO’s Conductor Emeritus, the Barbican Music Library have agreed to display the bust for at least two years on our behalf and its position ensures great viewing opportunity for visitors to the library.
Help Musicians has been supporting musicians for over 100 years and significant voices like Sir Simon Rattle are vital to raising awareness of the challenges they face when building and sustaining careers. We’d like to say thank you to all of those involved in this very special piece of art that will be enjoyed by many music lovers in the years to come
Photos from the unveiling
Frances Segelman and Sir Simon Rattle at the unveiling of the bronze bust. Photographer: Sophie Dunne
Help Musicians Trustee, Edward Kershaw speaks at the event, with Frances Segelman and Sir Simon Rattle. Photographer: Sophie Dunne
Sir Simon Rattle’s final performance as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra
Bronze bust of Sir Simon Rattle in the Barbican Music Library after the unveiling