Watkins: Fanfare / Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Orchestra

This album celebrates the close musical collaboration between composer Huw Watkins, conductor Sir Mark Elder, and the Hallé Orchestra – as well as the extraordinary impact the Covid pandemic had on British cultural life. Sir Mark and the Hallé Orchestra commissioned and premiered the works on this album between 2020 and 2025, with Huw Watkins composing them specifically for the sound of the Hallé Orchestra. Symphony No. 2 and the "Fanfare for the Hallé" were created during the pandemic.

The symphony was composed during the Covid lockdown, which, according to Watkins, influenced the character of the work, with a determination that it should end positively. It is uplifting music composed in the symphonic tradition, revealing a skillful use of orchestration. The "Fanfare for the Hallé" was commissioned by the Hallé Orchestra to celebrate the ensemble's return to the concert stage following the first Covid lockdown. The Concerto for Orchestra in particular reflects the qualities of the Hallé and its musicians, as well as their long-standing relationship with their longtime conductor, Elder.

Huw Watkins is highly regarded as both a pianist and a composer. In addition to a wealth of chamber music, he has written a number of concertos for renowned soloists and is known for his sensitive vocal compositions.