They say that a conductor only begins to grow into the role in their fifties. A few exceptions still in their thirties nevertheless exist, and are invited as guest conductors and artistic directors by the world's most prestigious musical ensembles. Daniel Harding belongs among them. Born in 1975, the young British conductor was initially taken on as an assistant by Simon Rattle, and then by the music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado. There can hardly be a better letter o...f recommendation to usher in global fame. Harding first conducted the esteemed German orchestra at the age of 21, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall before an audience of 5,500 as the youngest conductor in the history of the BBC Proms at the time. These are dizzying achievements, especially if we add that Harding claims never to have had formal conducting lessons. The Oxford-born musician - and Manchester United fan - has been music director of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra since 2003. He is now conductor laureate and previously visited Budapest with the orchestra in 2009. He was principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2007 to 2012, and conducted the season-opening night at La Scala in Milan as a substitute for Riccardo Muti in 2005. He has taken part in numerous highly successful opera productions since, not just in Milan, but also with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival.
Since 2006, Harding has been principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, founded some 110 years ago and currently headed by Valery Gergiev. Gustav Mahler holds a special place in the repertoires of both Harding and Britain's leading orchestra, and this concert will feature a work by the Austrian composer that was originally premièred in Budapest. The composition, full of whirling energy, youthful vitality, humour and freshness, is joined on the programme by a characteristically Russian composition by Igor Stravinsky.
Presented by: Palace of Arts
Parking information
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