“His diary is packed with prestigious guest engagements on both sides of the Atlantic. But looking back over the past 30 years, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that Mark Elder works best in a collaborative environment with people who know his quirks – such as his small beat, a legacy of the English choral tradition. There’s no other way to explain his long stint as English National Opera’s music director (1979-93) or his quick bedding-in at Manchester, where standards and morale have risen under his leadership.”