Featured artists
Claudio Abbado
Bernhard Haitink
Daniel Barenboim
Lorin Mazel
Sir Simon Rattle
Esa-Pekka Salonen

In 2002, the 128 musicians of the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra cast their votes, electing Sir Simon Rattle as their new Principal Conductor. He succeeded Claudio Abbado to become the sixth Principal Director in the 2002/2003 season.

The Berlin Philharmonic is the only symphony orchestra in the world for which choosing its principal conductor is its own responsibility. This fascinating documentary follows the orchestra from 1999 at auditions, concerts and guest performances and shows the various steps, from the groundwork preceding the election to the final counting of votes.

The documentary also examines the orchestra in terms of its position as a microcosm of the German society at the end of the 20th century, and includes excerpts from auditions and interviews with major conductors, orchestra members, agents and soloists, as they discuss the significance of the election. Fascinating stuff for anyone interested in classical music and its modern machinations.