Elder At Halle To 2015

Mark Elder signs on for another five years at Hallé

Sir Mark Elder Sir Mark Elder has announced the renewal of his contract as music director of the Hallé Orchestra for a further five years, taking his tenure through to 2015, writes Robert Beale.

The move means he will be the longest serving principal conductor of the Hallé’s 152-year history except for Sir John Barbirolli (who stayed 26 years) and its founder Sir Charles Hallé (who put in 38).

Sir Mark became music director in 2000 in the wake of a major financial crisis at the Hallé. He has restored both its confidence and its artistic fortunes to levels comparable with the greatest in its history, and issued a string of recordings on the Hallé’s own CD label, including an ongoing complete Elgar edition.

He has thrown himself into every aspect of the orchestra’s life, including the revitalisation of the Hallé Choir (led by James Burton), and overseen the formation of a Hallé ‘family’ of performing bodies including a youth orchestra, a youth choir and most recently a children’s choir, all of which have taken their place in the Hallé’s concert schedules.

John Summers, chief executive of the Hallé, said: ‘The renewal of Sir Mark’s contract for a further five years is an indication of the strength of the relationship between him and Manchester, and of what he has been able to achieve.

‘I think he feels it’s really worked well. And one of the great things about him is that he’s restless. There’s still an awful lot he wants to do here.’

Text from Classical Music Magazine. Click here for the full story.