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Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (ASMF)

This orchestra was founded by Sir Neville Marriner in 1959.  Based in London, they gave their first concert in St. Martin’s Church where they were a string ensemble with no conductor.They have since expanded to include a wind section but the size of the group changes to suit the type of music it is playing.

They are known for their revival of baroque in England, although they perform all periods of music including many contemporary works.  Making many live performances they have been led by Iona Brown and Kenneth Sillito as well as their conductor, Sir Neville Marriner, as well as their Life President, the Principal Guest Conductor, Murray Perahia.

Their recordings are extensive and aside from their classical performances they have become known for their work on soundtracks for movies such as Titanic, The English Patient and Amadeus (which is their best selling recording).

Pseudonyms they have recorded under are London Strings, London String Players and Argo Chamber Orchestra.

Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni recordings
Adagio in G minor
EMI Classics 5 66400 (CD: Baroque for Dummies)
Conductor – Neville Marriner
Violin – Iona Brown

Seraphim 5 73289 2 (CD: Classical Favorites)
Conductor – Neville Marriner
Violin – Iona Brown

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger recordings
Concertino for Trumpet in E flat Major
Deutsche Grammaphon DG B0005042-02 (CD: Masters of the Trumpet)
Conductor – Neville Marriner
Trumpet –  John Wilbraham

Here is an excerpt of  Sir Neville Marriner conducting ASMF in 2014 in a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K466…

Sources:

  1. http://www.asmf.org/
  2. http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/ASMF.htm
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_St._Martin_in_the_Fields
  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/832962-The-Academy-Of-St-Martin-in-the-Fields 
  5. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/academy-of-st-martin-in-the-fields-mn0000239382/biography