Masters of the Bench

Sir Mark Elder is Music Director of the Hallé, a Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Artistic Director of Opera Rara. He was Music Director of English National Opera from 1979 to 1993 and has been Principal Guest Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Mozart Players.

Sir Mark Elder was knighted in 2008, and was awarded the CBE in 1989. He won an Olivier Award in 1991 for his outstanding work at ENO and in May 2006 he was named Conductor of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society. In 2011, he was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society.