The Tung Auditorium was honoured to welcome internationally acclaimed, Liverpool-born conductor Sir Simon Rattle on Sunday 9 November.
Conducting the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra (LMO) to a full house, Sir Simon opened the Orchestra’s 75th anniversary season with ‘The Representation of Chaos’ from The Creation by Haydn.
Sir Simon’s inaugural performance at The Tung Auditorium was particularly significant given his links to the University of Liverpool, having received an honorary doctorate in 1991.
Richard Hartwell, Artistic Director of The Tung Auditorium, said: “It was an extraordinary privilege to welcome Sir Simon to The Tung Auditorium. His connection to the city and University and his remarkable journey from a young musician in this city to an international icon makes this occasion particularly significant. Hosting him in our state-of-the-art concert hall was a chance to showcase the auditorium’s exceptional acoustics and celebrate our work with artistic partners to bring world-class music to the University and the wider community.”
Jonny Stone, Chairman and Principal Cello of the LMO, said: “We were thrilled that Sir Simon Rattle, our President, joined us for this special concert. As he began his musical journey in the 1970s, Sir Simon appeared with the orchestra both as a timpanist and as a conductor, so he is very much part of the LMO story. The last time he conducted us was in 2001 for our Golden Jubilee, and some of the players from that concert performed again this time, making it even more special to welcome him back.”
The concert received an enthusiastic response from the audience and also included Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, a new commission by chief conductor Robin Wallington, and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.
Liverpool Mozart Orchestra were a 2022-25 Tung Auditorium Affiliate Organisation and regularly perform at The Tung Auditorium. For their next concert on 7 February 2026 they will be performing Elgar’s Violin Concerto, more information and tickets available via the Tung Auditorium website here. Read more about the newly announced 2025-27 community Affiliate Organisations here.