Berlin Philharmonic intends to extend Simon Rattle's contract 30/04/2008 00:00

Conductor's contract will likely be extended, despite speculation over his future with the Philharmonic now the orchestra will vote to decide whether he stays with them.

Berlin -- The Berlin Philharmonic has indicated it intends to extend the contract of chief conductor Simon Rattle beyond 2012, when the English musician's current arrangement with the renowned orchestra expires.

"The Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle will now exchange ideas on how their common future will look after 2012," the orchestra said in a brief statement released late Friday. There were no details on the length of the new deal.

Speculation on the future of the 53-year-old was fuelled mid-week when it was announced that the musicians of the orchestra would vote on his future.

"This is a perfectly normal process," Rattle said at a press conference to set out the philharmonic's 2008-09 program.

However, next year will essentially mark one of the rare occasions that the orchestra members will be called upon to evaluate the performance of their principal conductor. Rattle's time at the philharmonic has not been without criticism.

At what is about midway point in his time as chief conductor in Berlin, Rattle insisted that he still had much he wanted to do at the philharmonic.

DPA