Manchester has long shown the world how to blend change with tradition. The two elements are sure to be fully embraced in the city again during Kahchun Wong’s inaugural season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Hallé. He is set to launch his tenure on Thursday 26 September 2024 with the spellbinding combination of a new suite of pieces drawn from Benjamin Britten’s ballet The Prince of the Pagodas and Mahler’s Symphony No.1 ‘Titan’. The charismatic Singaporean conductor, recently hailed as ‘a ball of energy and charm’ by the Observer, returns throughout the season to perform great landmarks from the symphonic repertoire, thrilling scores that merge the musical cultures of East and West, and vibrant works from Britain and beyond that offer audiences the chance to experience fresh perspectives on the Hallé’s acclaimed artistry.

“Since my first encounter with the Hallé just over eighteen months ago, we’ve had a very positive and intense relationship together,” notes Kahchun Wong. “We’ve spent six whole days recording The Prince of the Pagodas, followed by a tour to Spain. Most recently, we performed Fauré’s Requiem at The Bridgewater Hall, which was a perfect introduction to our excellent Hallé Choir.”

Wong’s first season at the helm of the Hallé reflects his diverse musical passions and clear understanding of the orchestra’s deep history. His choice of repertoire, ideally suited to the Hallé’s virtuosity and feeling for tonal nuance, spans a vast expanse of orchestral styles and musical expression. In addition to monumental symphonies by Mahler, Bruckner, Brahms, Shostakovich and Beethoven, the conductor has also programmed Malcolm Arnold’s playful Four Scottish Dances (1957); James MacMillan’s percussion concerto Veni, veni Emmanuel (1991-92) with Colin Currie as soloist; the Japanese Suite for orchestra (1991) by Akira Ifukube; Tan Dun’s Violin Concerto Fire Ritual (2018), written for and played here by Eldbjørg Hemsing; and Unsuk Chin’s Šu (2009).

“We’ve put a lot of thought into our first season together,” the conductor comments. “Each concert connects the Hallé’s great traditions with relevance to our time. Britten follows the orchestra’s excellent work in Elgar and Vaughan Williams under my predecessor, Sir Mark Elder. Mahler is irrevocably linked to Sir John Barbirolli, and Beethoven was championed by Sir Charles Hallé right from the very first season of our orchestra in 1858. In many of his programmes, Hallé also often conducted music by his contemporaries alongside established masterworks. We are deeply aware of and inspired by this link between the past, present and future and hope this will become a hallmark of our collaboration together.”

Kahchun Wong opens the Hallé’s season with the world premiere of a 30-minute Suite drawn from The Prince of the Pagodas. Conductor and orchestra became deeply immersed in the ballet’s music during recording sessions held at Hallé St Peter’s. Their double-disc album, scheduled for release on 1 November 2024, is only the third complete studio recording of Britten’s work. “The Prince of the Pagodas was always the one work with which we wanted to open our season. The question was should we perform the two-hour version or one of the several suites that have been made from it. I had the pleasure of speaking with Colin Matthews, who knew Britten very well, and together we came up with our own short suite of Pagoda pieces. Britten and Mahler – what a pairing! I’ve had a lifelong fascination with Mahler’s music, because it transcends glass ceilings. We’ll perform his Second Symphony together in January and many more of his works in coming seasons. I’m also delighted that Dr John Phillips, one of four scholars who completed what is known as the SPCM finale of Bruckner’s Symphony No.9, has made further revisions to their edition. We will perform this newest version of the finale alongside the first three movements, which will be recorded live for the Hallé label.”

Kahchun Wong is determined to build on Sir Mark Elder’s remarkable legacy with the Hallé. “Mark has been incredibly generous and supportive,” he comments. “I look forward to him returning as our Conductor Emeritus. I suspect we will have a few glasses of wine together! I have known the orchestra on record from when I was just beginning my journey in music. I am deeply honoured to be the latest guardian of our extraordinary tradition.”

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