On a sunny day in late May in Berlin, an extraordinary scene took place just outside the Philharmonie, the sloping golden home of the Berlin Philharmonic: A festive flash mob of French horn players of all ages from all over the city joined the orchestra’s professionals in an exuberant march from Weber’s Der Freischütz. Wielding the baton and singing along—and looking positively boyish despite his white locks—was Sir Simon Rattle, the Philharmonic’s outgoing chief conductor and artistic director and the London Symphony Orchestra’s new music director. Fresh from leading a special performance of Brahms’s First Symphony by amateur players from all over the world, and days away from embarking on his final European tour with the Berlin Philharmonic, Rattle mingled happily with the crowd. It was, in every way, a very Simon Rattle moment.

Rattle is an undisputed superstar of classical music. With a career spanning five decades and five continents, he has been called “the British conductor who conquered the world.” He has conducted the best orchestras to near-universal acclaim and has been eagerly sought after by several of them, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as a principal conductor. His visits are a movable feast for lovers of classical music from Seoul to Paris to New York, where his first appearance with the London Symphony this past May drew standing ovations. He has dedicated followers who travel the globe to attend his performances. He is acclaimed as a figure of astounding versatility, championing both cutting-edge modern music and period instruments.