Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

biography

‘The hallmarks of the Academy sound – which is typically

brilliant, light, reserved, even polite – were still there in chipper,

clean performances of two early symphonies set at blazingfast tempos.’

WASHINGTON POST, 5th NOVEMBER 2010

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields - one of the finest chamber orchestras in

the world - is renowned for its polished and refined sound, rooted in outstanding

musicianship. Formed in 1958 from a group of leading London musicians, and

working without a conductor, the Academy gave its first performance in its namesake

church on 13th November 1959. Today, the Academy performs some 100 concerts

around the world each year, with as many as 15 tours each season. In 1993, the

Academy became the first and only orchestra to be awarded the Queen’s Award

for Export.

The Academy’s partnership with its founder Sir Neville Marriner remains the most

recorded pairing of orchestra and conductor and, with over 500 recordings under

its belt, the Academy is one of the most recorded chamber orchestras in the world.

Originally directed by Sir Neville from the leader’s chair, the collegiate spirit and

flexibility of the original small, conductorless ensemble remains an Academy hallmark.

This tradition continues today with the appointment of virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell

as its new Music Director with effect from September 2011.

It was clear from the Academy’s first collaboration with Joshua in 1986 - a recording

of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 coupled with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

for Decca - that this would be a special relationship. The partnership has grown

and flourished over the past 25 years and in addition to a number of outstanding

recordings - Romance of the Violin released in 2004 was named Billboard Classical

CD of the Year and, three years later, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons reached No. 1 in the

Billboard Classical Chart - their concerts together in the UK, Europe, the United States,

Asia and Australia have been electrifying. In addition to performing with the

Academy, Joshua’s new role will involve working with the orchestra to create its

annual programme of inspirational and inventive concerts.

Alongside its performances with Life President Sir Neville, Principal Guest Conductor

Murray Perahia, and Music Director Joshua Bell, the orchestra continues to

collaborate with some of today’s most thrilling musicians including Julia Fischer,

Julian Rachlin, Janine Jansen and Anthony Marwood. Next season’s five-concert

London series features Gabriela Montero, Joshua Bell and Anthony Marwood; there

are European tours with Murray Perahia, Jaime Martin, Sir Neville Marriner, Julia

Fischer and Håkan Hardenberger; and a 15-city American tour with Joshua Bell.

In tandem with its London performances and international tours, the Academy has

initiated Outward Sound, a programme of outreach activities open to participants of

all ages, backgrounds and abilities which seeks to connect with the communities in

which it performs. Outward Sound brings music-making opportunities to those who

otherwise may not have access to music. In May, following a week-long residency,

Academy musicians performed alongside members of Southbank Sinfonia, an

orchestra for young professional instrumentalists. In the coming months, Outward

Sound will travel to Newcastle, Frimley and Nottingham to create new music with

schoolchildren.