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Celebrating Sir Neville Marriner: The Academy of St Martin in the Fields and their current music director Joshua Bell return to the ensemble’s spiritual home to mark the 100th birthday of its founder, Sir Neville Marriner, with a celebratory concert that reflects the orchestra’s illustrious history.

Presented by Martin Handley

Handel: Concerto grosso in B flat, HWV 313, op. 3/2
Tomo Keller (violin and director)

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Tomo Keller (violin and director)

Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183
Joshua Bell (violin and director)

Errollyn Wallen: PARADE
Jaime Martín (guest conductor)

Haydn: Suite from The Creation
Jaime Martín (guest conductor)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sarah-Jane Brandon (soprano
Benjamin Hulett (tenor)
Matthew Rose (bass)
Former members of the ASMF Chorus, St Martin’s Voices

The ASMF, under the directorship of violinist Neville Marriner, burst onto the scene in 1958. Praised for its ‘precision, care, and consummate musicianship’ the orchestra became renowned for its crispness of ensemble and sophisticated delivery. Their renowned string sound - as heard in a Marriner favourite, Vaughan Williams' sublime Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis - is the inspiration for Errollyn Wallen, whose brand-new work evokes and celebrates Neville’s stylish interpretations of the classics. Alongside this world premiere is a return to the ensemble’s Baroque roots with Handel’s Concerto Grosso in B flat, a work that featured in early ASMF recordings and concerts - a reminder of how the orchestra’s buoyant tone and Marriner’s brisk speeds brought out the colour and quality of then neglected early 18th century works.
Moving to the classical era, ‘Marriner’ goes hand in hand with ‘Mozart’. Sir Neville Marriner was a champion of Mozart’s music, his recordings of the symphonies becoming the hallmark of his conducting career. The ASMF under Marriner curated and performed the bestselling soundtrack to the film Amadeus and their performance of the allegro from Mozart’s dramatic Symphony No. 25 pinned audiences to their seats as the story of Mozart and Salieri unfolded.
Staying in the Classical era - and with ASMF alumnus Jaime Martin taking the baton - former members of the Academy Chorus perform in a suite from another Marriner favourite, Haydn’s Creation.