The historic Hallé Orchestra—arguably the UK's oldest of its kind—has stirred audiences for over 150 years, thriving under the batons of Sir Charles Hallé, Kent Nagano and Sir John Barbirolli. Although the Hallé is noted for its broad, progressive programming, the orchestra particularly excels at the sweeping, bucolic music of British composers like Elgar and Vaughan Williams. The ensemble's pristine strings execute glissandos and crescendos with almost surgical efficiency, while the staccatos and climaxes of the horns rival any brass section recording today.