Kahchun Wong debuts as Principal Conductor of the Hallé with Mahler’s ‘Titan’ at The Bridgewater Hall

In his first concert as Principal Conductor, Kahchun Wong leads the Hallé in a breathtaking programme featuring Mahler’s soaring First Symphony, and a magisterial suite of pieces from Benjamin Britten’s The Prince of the Pagodas at The Bridgewater Hall on Thu 26 Sep.

Promising a renewed vibrancy and fresh, invigorating perspectives on the Hallé’s world-renowned artistry, Kahchun’s inaugural season opens with an exquisitely curated selection from Britten’s gorgeously vivid 1957 ballet, a heady fusion of Balinese gamelan elements and Western instrumental simulations of East Asian forms, presented in collaboration with the Hallé’s Composer Emeritus, Colin Matthews.

Blending chasmic grandeur, triumphant hope and intense, grief-stricken melancholy, Mahler’s seminally daring ‘Titan’ Symphony is celebrated around the world as one of the classical canon’s greatest boundary-breaking compositions, having debuted to a frosty reception in 1889. Hailed as a stirring exploration of the human condition, the symphonic tone poem expresses a unique spirit under the direction of the Hallé’s new Principal Conductor – himself a winner of the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition.

Recently lauded as ‘a ball of energy and charm’ by The Observer, Kahchun is set to return regularly throughout the Hallé’s 2024-25 season with a bold, eclectic repertoire, merging the musical cultures of East and West in a celebration of global classical forms and the orchestra’s rich heritage. Click here to see the season programme, featuring majestic symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler and Shostakovich and sublime scores by, among others, Unsuk Chin, Tan Dun, Akira Ifukube and James MacMillan.

Ahead of the opening concert, Kahchun commented: “Since I made my debut with the Hallé just over eighteen months ago, I’ve had a very intense and hugely enjoyable relationship with them.”

“Soon after my appointment as Principal Conductor was announced last year, we spent six days together recording The Prince of the Pagodas. We then went on tour to Spain and performed Fauré’s Requiem at The Bridgewater Hall, which gave me the opportunity to work with and get to know the excellent Hallé Choir. We’ve done a lot together in that short time and the experience has been so positive. I’ve been spoiled by the people both on and off stage at the Hallé. They’ve been incredibly kind and open, welcoming me into the family. I can’t wait for the adventure to continue.”

Click below to book tickets.

Concessions and discounts are available for most concerts including students and under 18s, under 30s and over 60s.