“As I child, I always had music in my head. I thought everybody did,” says conductor Simon Rattle. By the age of 17, as a student, he was conducting an orchestra with remarkable skill, and at 25 he was appointed chief conductor of the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra. Over the following years, he completely transformed the orchestra, turning it into one of the world’s finest. He went on to lead other major ensembles, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. Today, he is the choirmaster and director of the symphony orchestra of the Bavarian Broadcasting Company.

The film captures Rattle’s magnetic personality, his humor, dedication, and lifelong passion for music — “it’s in my blood,” he says, describing the magic it brings him. Each of the participants in the film recounts a special moment with Rattle, an experience that has shaped their careers. And of course, the musical excerpts from concerts and rehearsals included in the film showcase his extraordinary skill and leave viewers eager to listen to him again.