The Hallé - Finale: Sir Mark Elder conducts Mahler 5

Sir Mark Elder conductor
Hallé Choir | Matthew Hamilton choral director
Hallé Youth Choir | Stuart Overington director
Hallé Children’s Choir | Shirley Court director

James MacMillan Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia
Hallé commission | European premiere
Mahler Symphony No.5

Due to high demand for tickets, the Hallé is delighted to announce this second performance of Sir Mark Elder’s final concert as Hallé Music Director, in association with The Bridgewater Hall. It is a repeat of the programme on Saturday 1 June, which has now sold out.

For Sir Mark’s finale as Hallé Music Director, a musical coup! A new choral work specially composed by Sir James MacMillan, one of the UK’s highest profile composers on the world stage. ‘What I wanted’, says Sir Mark, ‘was a work that would involve different strands of the Hallé choral family’. MacMillan’s whole-hearted response is his Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia, setting three sections of John Dryden’s great poem from 1697 in celebration of St Cecilia’s Day, ‘Alexander’s Feast: Or The Power of Music’. In Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, the composer takes us on a journey from heavy tragedy to brilliant optimism. By choosing it for his bowing out, Sir Mark wishes to showcase the qualities of the Hallé – ‘their fighting spirit, joie de vivre, determination and commitment to their music-making.’

Concert sponsored by Siemens
Hallé new commission CMS