Sir Mark Elder has renewed his contract with Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra, extending their much-praised partnership through until at least 2020. Elder took up the role with the Manchester ensemble in 2000, since which the partnership has become highly acclaimed for the strong and successful rapport between musicians and maestro. It’s a relationship which record-buyers have been able to follow on the orchestra’s own Hallé label, not least the recent Gramophone Award-winning release of Elgar’sThe Apostles. Meanwhile, the Hallé will be playing a key role in Manchester’s celebration next year of the music of Richard Strauss, to mark 150 years since the composer’s birth. Other ensembles to participate in the series are the BBC Philharmonic and the Manchester Camerata, along with soloists including Susan Gritton, Soile Isokoski, Steven Isserlis and Roderick Williams.