Mark Elder was born on June 2, 1947 in Hexham, Northumberland, England, UK. He is a writer, known for Xerxes (1988), Verdi (1994) and Rigoletto (1982). He is married to Mandy. They have one child.
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1991 (1990 season)
for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for conducting the English
National Opera for Bluebird's Castle, Macbeth, Pelleas and Melisande,
and Wozzeck.
He was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) before being awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honors List for his services to music.
He was awarded the CH (Member of the Order of Companion of Honour) in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Music. He is the Musical Director of The Halle Orchestra in London, England.