The performance of all nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven was the outstanding artistic project of the Berliner Philharmoniker and their chief conductor, Sir Simon Rattle in the 2015/2016 season. To celebrate the cycle, he talks to the journalist Shirley Apthorp about his view of the works: their historical and political background, the significance of Beethoven’s deafness for his composing, the findings of historically informed performance practice and the question of the order in which such different symphonies should be played to show them to their best advantage. According to Rattle, Beethoven’s music is “like a mirror”, which pledges its performers “to the utmost honesty”.