The Hallé’s Opening Night – Elgar’s Cello Concerto

Launching his second season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Hallé, Kahchun Wong is joined by acclaimed cellist Truls Mørk in this emotive opening to the 2025/26 season.

Written in the aftermath of the First World War, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a cornerstone of the instrument’s repertoire and, famously, the composer’s last completed work, is deeply emotional – never more so than in the heart-rending Adagio third movement. Despite this, there are still moments of hope and that recognisable Elgarian nobility; altogether, it remains among the composer’s most celebrated and well-loved works.

In striking contrast, the programme includes Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and Rachmaninov’s exuberant Symphony No.2. The Festive Overture in particular, with its grandiose brass fanfare opening full of cymbal crashes, makes for a powerful start to the season.

Kahchun Wong conductor
Truls Mørk cello

Shostakovich Festive Overture
Elgar Cello Concerto
Rachmaninov Symphony No.2