| Kahchun Wong | Direction |
| Rachel Helleur-Simcock | Violoncelle |
| The Hallé |
New Hallé Cello Leader, Rachel Helleur-Simcock joins Kahchun Wong in this emotive opening to the 2025/26 season.
Launching his second season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Kahchun Wong is joined by Rachel Helleur-Simcock 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 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, we have 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.
The Hallé Concerts Society is very grateful to Rachel Helleur-Simcock for replacing Truls Mørk who has had to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances.