rooster59 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 British maestro Rattle seeking German citizenship after Brexit By Thomas Escritt FILE PHOTO: Conductor Simon Rattle takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) - Star conductor Simon Rattle, who this week announced he was cutting short his tenure at Britain's leading orchestra to return to Germany, said on Friday he had applied for German citizenship after Brexit. The Liverpool-born musician, 65, lamented the barriers thrown up by Britain's departure from the European Union to the careers of young musicians who had grown used to performing freely to the continent's music-hungry public. "My passport is on the way," Rattle told a news conference when asked if he had followed many EU-based Britons in applying for the citizenship that will let them continue to work freely around the bloc. "Like for many, this was an absolute necessity." Britain's music scene was taken by surprise when Rattle announced he would end his tenure at the London Symphony Orchestra in 2023 to become music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. Rattle said his decision to return to Germany, where for 16 years he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, was taken so that he could be close to his family in the German capital, but he made his frustration with Britain's political direction clear. "The fact that musicians and artists in general suddenly have to get visas for Europe is absolutely not the Brexit bonus we were talking about," he said, in apparent reference to promises made by Brexit campaigners during the 2016 EU membership referendum. "We will have to fight it." Rattle, who lives with his wife, Czech soprano Magdalena Kozena, in Berlin, said spending more time there and cooking for their children during the past year of coronavirus lockdown had helped crystalise his desire to work nearer to home. (Editing by Janet Lawrence) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scot123 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) Bye! And like many of these attention seekers he will quietly come crawling back. Edited January 17, 2021 by Scot123 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujayujay Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Scot123 said: Bye! And like many of these attention seekers he will quietly come crawling back. Dream on, Rattle is a wise Man! Where's your Argument for crawling back......... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossie35 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 23 minutes ago, ujayujay said: Dream on, Rattle is a wise Man! Where's your Argument for crawling back......... Brexiters never have arguments! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfill Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 5 hours ago, Scot123 said: Bye! And like many of these attention seekers he will quietly come crawling back. Why? He's lived in Germany for years, has been conductor of one of the world's greatest orchestras - the Berlin Philharmonic and is married to a Czech lady and the chances are that you had never heard of this 'attention seeker' as he isn't a crankie or a Proclaimer. He also performs a great deal in Europe - where British people are only allowed to go for short periods now - so doesn't need ridiculous travel blocks getting in the way of his work. It also applies to any UK musician who wishes to tour Europe as travel, especially for irregular work, is a lot more difficult. He won't be back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfiddler Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 "He also performs" ? I remember reading the survey results taken from a whole load of orchestra musicians. They were of the opinion that conductors were non-essential and actually preferred playing without one ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangyai Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 20 hours ago, Scot123 said: Bye! And like many of these attention seekers he will quietly come crawling back. Unless he gets conscripted into the Wehrmacht to conduct Wagner concerts all over the Reich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, flossie35 said: Brexiters never have arguments! Remainers have? Edited January 17, 2021 by hansnl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 On 1/16/2021 at 6:16 PM, rooster59 said: British maestro Rattle seeking German citizenship after Brexit By Thomas Escritt FILE PHOTO: Conductor Simon Rattle takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) - Star conductor Simon Rattle, who this week announced he was cutting short his tenure at Britain's leading orchestra to return to Germany, said on Friday he had applied for German citizenship after Brexit. The Liverpool-born musician, 65, lamented the barriers thrown up by Britain's departure from the European Union to the careers of young musicians who had grown used to performing freely to the continent's music-hungry public. "My passport is on the way," Rattle told a news conference when asked if he had followed many EU-based Britons in applying for the citizenship that will let them continue to work freely around the bloc. "Like for many, this was an absolute necessity." Britain's music scene was taken by surprise when Rattle announced he would end his tenure at the London Symphony Orchestra in 2023 to become music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. Rattle said his decision to return to Germany, where for 16 years he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, was taken so that he could be close to his family in the German capital, but he made his frustration with Britain's political direction clear. "The fact that musicians and artists in general suddenly have to get visas for Europe is absolutely not the Brexit bonus we were talking about," he said, in apparent reference to promises made by Brexit campaigners during the 2016 EU membership referendum. "We will have to fight it." Rattle, who lives with his wife, Czech soprano Magdalena Kozena, in Berlin, said spending more time there and cooking for their children during the past year of coronavirus lockdown had helped crystalise his desire to work nearer to home. (Editing by Janet Lawrence) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates In short, he got a job offer which he liked, his family lives in Germany, so that are the real reasons for getting a German passport. Of course he blames Brexit. But I wonder if he will give up his UK passport? Don't think so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Pie 47 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 10 hours ago, Scot123 said: Bye! And like many of these attention seekers he will quietly come crawling back. Like Trump supporters ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Pie 47 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 2 minutes ago, hansnl said: In short, he got a job offer which he liked, his family lives in Germany, so that are the real reasons for getting a German passport. Of course he blames Brexit. But I wonder if he will give up his UK passport? Don't think so. https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beano2274 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 So he paid German Tax for 7 continuous years without a break, lucky guy. It is something that I am not thinking of, at the moment am in Germany without applying for German citizenship or even applied for a work permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Pie 47 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 17 minutes ago, beano2274 said: So he paid German Tax for 7 continuous years without a break, lucky guy. It is something that I am not thinking of, at the moment am in Germany without applying for German citizenship or even applied for a work permit. As far as know you need to live in Germany for 10 years before you can apply for a German passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patong2021 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 6 hours ago, mrfill said: Why? He's lived in Germany for years, has been conductor of one of the world's greatest orchestras - the Berlin Philharmonic and is married to a Czech lady and the chances are that you had never heard of this 'attention seeker' as he isn't a crankie or a Proclaimer. He also performs a great deal in Europe - where British people are only allowed to go for short periods now - so doesn't need ridiculous travel blocks getting in the way of his work. It also applies to any UK musician who wishes to tour Europe as travel, especially for irregular work, is a lot more difficult. He won't be back. I agree with everything you say, except his going back part. He will return for family, friend visit and some performances. He will be like the many UK people in Thailand. I don't know why UK people in forum upset. They should be happy now because he is 65 and will age under German medical system. Older people start taking on big medical expense, so Germany problem now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamahele Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 13 hours ago, phantomfiddler said: "He also performs" ? I remember reading the survey results taken from a whole load of orchestra musicians. They were of the opinion that conductors were non-essential and actually preferred playing without one ! Everybody wants to the boss. Conductors are essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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