Rathé‘s composing and conducting activities have a special emphasis on contemporary vocal-instrumental chamber (-ensemble) music. For his inspiration he often taps into silence: he weaves his refined time constructs with sparsely placed tones.

Filip Rathé studied piano, conducting composition and musicology. In 1993 he founded the SPECTRA ensemble. As artistic director and conductor of the ensemble he premiered more than 200 commissions by a.o. Luca Francesconi, Nicolaus A. Huber, Stefano Gervasoni and Philippe Hurel. He appeared as guest conductor with ensembles (I SOLISTI, Hermes Ensemble, Musiques Nouvelles, Flemish Radio Choir) and orchestras (Brussels Philarmonic, Antwerp Symphonic, Symphony Orchestra Flanders, Lviv National Philarmonic Symphony Orchestra). At the KASK & Conservatory Ghent he teaches contemporary music and is Head of the Classical Music Department. His compositions were performed by the Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart, Kremerata Baltica, ASKO Choir, UKHO ensemble and Exaudi.