The historic Manchester-based orchestra The Hallé will be performing works by Mahler and James MacMillan at the 2024 BBC Proms. But what else do you need to know about The Hallé? Read on…
What is The Hallé?
The Hallé is an orchestra based in Manchester, and is one of Britain’s oldest orchestras. It was founded in 1857. Does that make it the UK’s oldest continually working orchestra? Nearly, but not quite: that distinction is held by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1840.
Why is it called The Hallé?
The orchestra is named after its founder, pianist and conductor Charles Hallé. He was born Karl Halle in Germany in 1819, but later moved to England and Anglicised his name. So there’s a little element of German in The Hallé’s history.
Where does The Hallé perform?
The orchestra was for many years based at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall (scene of a legendary gig by The Sex Pistols among others). In 1996, however, The Hallé moved to its new home, the brand new, 2,300-capacity Bridgewater Hall. That venue is also the main concert venue for the BBC Philharmonic.
Which major works has the orchestra premiered?
The Hallé has strong links to some of the great English composers: it gave the first performance of Elgar‘s Symphony No. 1 back in 1908 under conductor Hans Richter, and it also gave the premieres of two of Vaughan Williams‘s symphonies: Symphony No. 7, in 1953, and Symphony No. 8, in 1956. The orchestra also gave the first performance of Constant Lambert’s secular cantata The Rio Grande, and of the first two symphonies by William Alwyn.
Two major works by the French composer Hector Berlioz, the Symphonie Fantastique and La Damnation de Faust, also got their UK premieres with The Hallé and founder Charles Hallé, in 1879 and 1880 respectively.
Who is the conductor of The Hallé Orchestra?
Sir Mark Elder is just coming to the end of a long and hugely successful stint as The Hallé’s chief conductor. His last performance with the orchestra will be that Mahler and James MacMillan concert at the 2024 BBC Proms. From the 2024-25 season onwards, the orchestra’s new conductor will be the Singaporean Kahchun Wong.
The Hallé has had some troubles in its past, notably during the late 1990s when it suffered some major financial problems and its very existence was threatened. But Elder has turned things around, converting The Hallé into a world-class orchestra and helping the other elements of The Hallé family (see below) to flourish as well.
And who have been its notable past conductors?
Past conductors of The Hallé have included some major names, including the often outspoken Sir Thomas Beecham, longtime Proms chief conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir John Barbirolli, who made major recordings of Brahms, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Sibelius with the orchestra. In more recent times, The Hallé has been led by the late James Loughran, followed by Stanisław Skrowaczewski and Kent Nagano.
Which other ensembles are also part of The Hallé family?
The Hallé Orchestra is not the only ensemble to bear the Hallé name. The Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Orchestra, Hallé Youth Choir and Hallé Children’s Choir are all closely associated with the orchestra, and frequently perform together. In fact, the three choirs will join the orchestra for their 2024 Proms performance.
And what is The Hallé performing at the 2024 BBC Proms?
The orchestra, outgoing conductor Sir Mark Elder, and its three choirs come together for a concert featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and James MacMillan’s Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia, a setting of three sections of John Dryden’s 1697 poem Alexander’s Feast: or The Power of Music (Prom 4, Sunday 21 July).