German legend Ludwig van Beethoven’s Third Symphony, composed in 1803-04 and popularly known as Eroica, is considered a landmark in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. When renowned British conductor Sir Mark Elder heard that the Mumbai-based NCPA’s (National Centre for the Performing Arts) Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) was keen to perform it, he chose to turn it into his debut show in Mumbai.
“I believe they hadn’t played it for a long time, and they said they didn’t want the orchestra to be any larger than the one that played with Zubin Mehta just a week earlier. So, given that size, I had to prepare them,” said Elder.
Performing at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in the final show of the SOI Spring 2025 Season, Elder and the musicians left the audience spellbound by the slow second movement, which is a funeral march, and by the wonderfully constructed and sprightly third movement. This was after the Overture to Carl Maria von Weber’s romantic opera Oberon and Robert Schumann’s Overture,Scherzo & Finale. Said the 77-year-old musician, “I had to find pieces that I thought would prepare for the Eroica, but not overshadow it.”
The conductor described Oberon as a beautiful piece of music with a terrible story. “The Overture remains one of my favourite pieces, and it suited the programme. I learnt it as a student in Cambridge, and thought it would not only be fun, but also something the orchestra would enjoy.”
Sir Mark Elder with Symphony Orchestra of India
Elder shared Schumann’s piece is actually not played at all. “Schumann wasn’t too experienced when he wrote it. It’s an experiment, and it’s like a symphony without a slow movement. I’ve known it since I was 20, because I had to study it for a competition. And it went well with the SOI.” Though Elder has had a long association with conducting, he actually began by singing in a cathedral as a boy, and then learnt the piano. Later, his parents bought him a bassoon which was “taller than I was”. The switch to conducting happened at Cambridge, where he sang, played the bassoon and piano and acted in plays.From 1979 to 1993, Elder was music director of the English National Orchestra. He also held prominent positions as principal guest conductor at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK, besides being music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in the U.S.
Most classical followers know him best for his association with The Halle, a symphony orchestra based in Manchester. “I first conducted The Halle in the beginning of the 1980s. They were not too happy. When I took over as their music director in 2000, things were not good, artistically and commercially. My focus was thus to give them confidence, and build a rapport. We re-did the contract, began to record much more, and things became good.” Elder quit as music director last year, but continues as the orchestra’s conductor laureate.
The conductor explained that his approach changes from orchestra to orchestra. “Earlier this year, I was in San Francisco, and then in Pittsburg. Lately, I’ve been a lot in Bergen, Norway. Now I am in Mumbai. Each orchestra is different. The personalities are different. So, you have to adjust, be ready to change.”
Sir Mark Elder also enjoys conducting pieces by new composers
When he’s conducting an orchestra for the first time, as he did with SOI, he first observes. “I conduct, they play. I hear their sound, and I hear what they find easy and what they find difficult. After 15 minutes or so in rehearsals, I start working with them to match what they give me musically with what I have in my imagination. I continue this till I get the right balance.”
Speaking about today’s audiences, Elder said he is happy to see more youngsters at concerts. It augurs well for the future of classical music. He added that unlike in the 1960s and 1970s, when he was young and new music was harder to absorb, more people are now keen to listen to new composers. “People are writing different kinds of music, catering to all tastes. I have conducted pieces by new composers Huw Watkins and James McMillan. The audience really loved them.”
With over 55 years of experience, Elder has a few simple pieces of advice for aspiring conductors. “It’s important to be patient, hard working and humble. One has to study music, develop an ear, learn to adjust and study more. Don’t expect a career to land in your lap,” he said, with the stamp of authority he displays while wielding the baton.
Published – March 18, 2025 04:33 pm IST
