An orchestra at a point of transition, from the acclaimed tenureship of quarter-of-a century holder Sir Mark Elder, a conductor who shaped the orchestra into today's formidable and versatile force, to their inspiring new head, Kahchun Wong. From one of the leading established conductors to one of the most exciting emerging ones then, and an organisation that continues to draw on the expertise of both. Wong opened his catalogue with the Hallé with Britten's The Prince of the Pagodas (11/24) – a far-from-obvious choice, and all the better for it, demonstrating his sensitivity to the score’s colours throughout – before following up with a Bruckner Symphony No 9 (6/25) deeply alive to the work’s epic spiritual dimension. To watch him in person is a fascinating insight into how a conductor can shape orchestral texture with almost balletic physicality; the Hallé’s home crowd clearly adore him. And between those two albums, from last year’s label of the year Opera Rara, came a brilliant original edition of Simon Boccanegra under the baton of Elder, the conductor's long-established rapport with his players palpable throughout.

Vote to decide Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year