The Hallé & Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong launch 25/26 season with Elgar’s emotive Cello Concerto

The Hallé kicks off its new season with a spectacular evening of contrasting masterpieces this September.

Launching his second season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Kahchun Wong is joined by acclaimed cellist Rachel Helleur-Simcock – newly announced as the Leader of the Cello Section – to perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a cornerstone of the instrument’s repertoire and, famously, the composer’s last completed work. 

Written in the aftermath of World War One, it is one of the composer’s most celebrated and widely-loved pieces. Though deeply emotional and famous for its heart-rending slow movement, the arrangement maintains moments of hope and typical Elgarian nobility.  

In striking contrast, the exhilarating brass fanfares of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture provide the power and grandeur worthy of any season opener, while Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.2 is uninhibited Romanticism at its best, with endless melodies concluding in life-affirming magnificence.

The Hallé’s opening night comes to The Bridgewater Hall on Thu 25 Sep. Tickets are on sale now, but are moving fast. Book yours using the button below. Discounts are available discounts for students and under 18s, under 30s and over 60s.

Featured image credit: Alex Burns