Tag Archives: Hallé Orchestra

James Loughran, the conductor who led the Hallé Orchestra and rocked the Last Night of the Proms – obituary

James Loughran, who has died aged 92, served as principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra for 12 years, succeeding John Barbirolli; he was also a popular figure at the Proms; he made at least 47 appearances, including five Last Nights, where he began the tradition of ending the season with a single audience for Auld… Read More »

‘Manchester has never been a great city for opera’

Sir Mark Elder never forgot his debut with the Hallé Orchestra more than 40 years ago. “We were singing Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole and had just hit our first big burst of energy,” he says with a cheerful smile. There was supposed to be dramatic silence, but the side drum stand collapsed, knocking over the cymbal… Read More »