Northern powerhouse, the Hallé Orchestra, will deliver the Festival finale with its musical director, the renowned Sir Mark Elder CBE. Celebrating the 125th anniversary of Tchaikovsky it promises an unforgettable experience. Below Sir Mark talks about his upcoming appearance at The Royal Hall.
You have a history with Harrogate, can you tell us why the Festivals are important for regional audiences?
I have always thought Harrogate is a very beautiful town, a perfect place to hold a festival. It has so many attractive venues, not just for performances, but for relaxing; eating and drinking. The future of classical music – of all forms of performance art – relies on regular celebrations like the Harrogate Festivals to develop the public’s curiosity.
Perhaps not many people, especially in rural Yorkshire, get to experience full-blown orchestral music. What would you say to someone who is perhaps unsure or intimidated by the idea?
In order to enjoy one of our concerts, one needs no more than an open heart and open ears.
Can you tell us a little about the programme and what audiences can expect?
Our programme is full of richly Romantic music and contains enormous emotional power. The great Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud will play the Tchaikovsky concerto. He played it with me and the Hallé some years ago, and it was certainly the most enjoyable performance of that great work I have experienced.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a professional musician?
The feeling in my early adolescence that I had been put on this earth to do just that. It was as if the decision had been made for me!
Is there one piece of music that means more to you than any other?
At the age of nine, whilst a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, I remember coming across a score of the Verdi Requiem, and trying to play it on the piano. The beauty and excitement of that early encounter has never left me. It is a work of great drama, written by a fervent agnostic.
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