Do you know your classical from your orchestral? Or do you, as I did, before meeting Andrew Bolt, the internationally renowned CEO of Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, think all orchestral music was classical music?
Well, apparently it’s not, as Andrew gave me his take on what defines classical music: it’s a combination of period, such as Mozart and Beethoven’s time, and the use of symphonic instruments – strings, woodwind, percussion and brass. Which you might expect from the man who runs the concert hall that is home to one of the world’s greatest symphonic orchestras, Manchester’s very own Hallé, and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra too.
But it’s a hotly disputed area, so Andrew employs his own ‘pub test’ when asked this question, which means that if someone in the pub tells you they went to a classical concert at the Bridgewater and it was the Hallé Orchestra playing the music of Queen, then that’s a good enough description for him. He’s passionate about widening the audience to attract as many people as possible to experience the unique thrill that only live music can provide. So whether that’s the power of a full orchestra or a rock band’s Marshall stack, his aim is to make the whole business of live music more inclusive.
And in this great musical city of ours, where Charles Hallé first conducted what would become our unique musical legacy that runs from the Hollies to Oasis, and Buzzcocks to Bugzy Malone, with iconic guest starring roles for Bob Dylan and the Sex Pistols. Andrew is well aware of Manchester’s place in the canon when it comes to music, and indeed, many other cultural arts. His knowledge and love of our long and rich musical history was formed long before he arrived here. And it’s a love that now encompasses our city and its people, who he believes are among the most creative in the world. Which has helped inspire him to position The Bridgewater Hall as unquestionably the country’s best symphony concert hall outside of London.
A native of Perth, Australia, Andrew had his inspirational moment of serendipity that started this impressive career that has brought him all the way from sun-soaked Perth by the Indian Ocean to the, well, greyer reflections of the Rochdale Canal. Working on a short contract in the print department at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), he walked through an empty studio and spied a Steinway grand piano just sitting there, begging to be played.
As a trained musician who had never played a Steinway, the temptation proved too great, “like a moth to the flame,” as he put it. So, play it he did, until a gruff voice from the gantry commanded him to stop immediately. Summoned to the office, and thinking that was the end of a glorious career-to-be, he discovered the ‘gruff man’ was the Head of Music at ABC who, to his astonishment, offered him a longer contract in the music library.
And that, certainly for Andrew, and for Manchester and The Bridgewater Hall, was perhaps the greatest surreptitious tinkling of a Steinway’s ivories, for 13 years later he walked out of ABC as the CEO of the West Australia Symphony and into the CEO role at Perth Concert Hall. His reputation for programming and excellent administration saw his profile rise and rise, leading, 21 years later, to his arrival at the Bridgewater, where both his standing and that of the organisation he heads continues to rise through innovative and diverse programming that is second to none.
With a requirement for 60% of its programming to be ‘classical’ in essence, Andrew and his team of over 200, made up of full-time and freelance professionals, have ensured the remaining 40% covers any and every possible musical genre that appeals to a far wider and diverse audience than you might imagine for a symphony concert hall. For he’s a passionate advocate for the arts and its enriching powers, especially so in a region such as ours that might not be as privileged as some others.
The Bridgewater’s acoustic properties are rightly lauded around the world, but the building itself is also perfectly positioned and designed for a whole host of events in its mezzanines and foyer areas. All of which adds to the richness of the Bridgewater as a terrific and unmissable cultural destination. We Mancunians sometimes bang our drum a little too loudly, and possibly sometimes a little unjustifiably, when it comes to Andrew’s excellent conducting of The Bridgewater Hall and its central role in the musical cultural life – the ‘symphony’ at the heart of this city – we can’t bang those percussive instruments loud enough. And long may his reign by the banks of the canal continue… come orchestral rain or classical shine!
By Mark Kureishy
