Renowned conductor Sir Simon Rattle is joining the London Symphony Orchestra as music director , it was confirmed yesterday . But the 60-year-old will be in Britain for only four months a year , remaining based in Germany for the sake of his wife and three children . Sir Simon , whose youngest child with Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená , 41 , is seven months old , has directed the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002 . Sir Simon ( right ) , whose youngest child with Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená ( left ) , 41 , is seven months old , has directed the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002 . He said : ‘ It ’ s crazy to be someone in their 60s with an extremely young family , but given that that ’ s the fact I have to think : what does my family most need ? ’ Sir Simon , who will join the LSO in 2017 , said the move was ‘ a very obvious step ’ . The announcement follows months of speculation that he would take up the post . Last month , Chancellor George Osborne gave his backing to a campaign led by Sir Simon to build a concert hall , and a feasibility study is now under way . The Liverpool-born conductor ’ s contract with the Berlin Philharmonic ends in 2018 , the year after his move to London , but he said he would be working with both orchestras during that year . The feasibility study into a new concert hall for London is being led by National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner , and is backed by the Chancellor and London Mayor Boris Johnson . The 60-year-old will be in Britain for only four months a year , remaining based in Germany for the sake of his wife and three children . Sir Simon said : ‘ The feasibility study has been announced , which is a wonderful thing because what I wanted to do was at least be able to kick-start the conversation about the possibility of a change , of expansion. ’ ‘ It ’ s wonderful news that Nicholas Hytner is the titular head of the feasibility study because I think he has enormous experience with buildings , enormous experience of bringing culture of all types to a wider audience. ’ The feasibility study is planned to report back its findings this autumn . Sir Simon said : ‘ We wait with real interest. ” . Mr Osborne said in February : ‘ Speaking to the likes of Sir Simon Rattle has impressed on me the significant artistic , educational and economic benefits that a modern concert hall would bring not just to London but the whole country. ’ Sir Simon made his first appearance with the LSO in 1977 , at the age of 22 . He conducted the orchestra at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games , performing Chariots Of Fire with actor Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean . He has also performed with the LSO earlier this year in the Barbican Centre . Sir Simon said of his appointment : ‘ During my work with the LSO over the last years , I noticed that , despite the orchestra ’ s long and illustrious history , they almost never refer to it . ‘ Instead , refreshingly , they talk about the future - what can they make anew , what can they improve , how can they reach further into the community ? ‘ In terms of musical excellence , it is clear that the sky ’ s the limit , but equally important , in terms of philosophy , they constantly strive to be a 21st century orchestra . ‘ We share a dream in which performing , teaching and learning are indivisible , with wider dissemination of art at our centre . ‘ I can not imagine a better or more inspiring way to spend my next years , and feel immensely fortunate to have the LSO as my musical family and co-conspirators . ’
Sir Magdalena Kožená Rattle to join the London Symphony Orchestra as music director . 60-year-old will be in Britain for four months a year when he takes up post . He will remain based in Germany for the sake of his wife and three children . Sir Magdalena Kožená has seven-month-old baby with Czech singer Simon .