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Photo by Richard Lea-Hair
Photo by Matthew Johnson
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Photo by Laurence Mueller
Photo by Sebastian Madej
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Photo by Richard Lea-Hair
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Photo by Richard Lea-Hair
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Photo by Laurence Mueller
About the ASMF
Bruch – Joshua Bell & the Academy of St Martin in the Fields
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“The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras…The players offered modern orchestral Haydn, played with the full sonority of contemporary [sic] instruments, yet kept within the stylistic niceties of the classical tradition. The outer movements had plenty of propulsive energy, definitely not Papa Haydn of the powdered wig variety. A spacious Minuet and canon and long spun Adagio were shaped with just the right measure of aristocratic charm and wit.”

South Florida Classical Review

“The English chamber orchestra Academy of St Martin in the Fields, with leader and solo violinist Joshua Bell, played works by Mozart and Beethoven with a kind of quiet excellence that made these familiar works a joy to hear again.”

San Francisco Classical Voice

“The precision of this ensemble was staggering from the first downbeat. They played with a constant, clear, unified sound, with their blend, balance and attacks always in agreement. As impressive as the soloists were, the collective string sound was equally effective. It would have been easy for this level of precision to be antiseptic, but ASMF instills more than enough musicality to bring the work to life…Played as a large piece of chamber music, players rarely looked at their music, opting for eye contact and body language to drive things. It was in this sense this chamber orchestra came alive. They were playing as a band, feeding on each other’s performances, instead of keeping time until the double bar.”

Palm Beach Daily News

“Renowned for its punctilious and conductor-less performances, the group could have breezed through Felix Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture” on its own. But with Bell’s leading from the concertmaster’s seat, the group embodied the music director’s glowing interpretation in a symbiotic give-and-take…Together, director and orchestra displayed innate synchronicity, including in the jovial Allegro’s meticulous articulations, the Andante’s mystical ease, the third movement’s elegant, lilting melodies and the finale’s impish romp.”

The Washington Post

“…the musicians proceeded to play the heck out of a demanding program…extraordinary details of dynamics and tone coloring…The Academy musicians seemed to revel in the notes and they shaped an absorbing, virtuosic performance.”

…a delectable mix of drive and vibrant coloring…an impressive night…”

The Baltimore Sun

“…an ensemble of first-rate musicians, technically superb, generously expressive, and obviously enjoying themselves.”

Dallas Morning News

“But it also featured the most passionately intense interpretation of Robert Schumann’s Second Symphony you’re ever likely to experience, a precise and powerful example of Romanticism at its stormiest. My two-hour trip to Winona for this sold-out concert was well worth the drive, for it proved undoubtedly one of Minnesota’s classical music events of the year, or perhaps decade… But the most memorable moments came on the slow movement, one of the most sadly beautiful things Schumann ever wrote, its yearning tone eloquently expressed in exquisite solos from oboist John Roberts, flutist Michael Cox and clarinetist Fiona Cross. While Bell offered some guidance with his bow arm, it was clear that developing this kind of acutely calibrated chemistry in an orchestra is a feat as superhuman as what its leader can do with a violin.”

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has evolved into a musical powerhouse, an orchestra renowned across the world for its commitment to the musical freedom of its players and the sharing of joyful, inspiring performances.

Today, with Music Director Joshua Bell, ASMF’s player-led approach empowers every member of the orchestra. This creates a direct line and electrifying connection between the orchestra and our audiences, resulting in ambitious and collaborative performances that transcend the more traditional conductor-led model.

ASMF will present more than 100 concerts across 2024/25, having kickstarted the season at the Royal Albert Hall with a BBC Proms performance of Handel’s Messiah with John Butt and a live show of The Rest is History podcast with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

Internationally, ASMF and Joshua Bell toured Prague and Switzerland in September and the ASMF Chamber Ensemble toured the US in October. In November, the orchestra will visit Korea and China with pianist Khatia Buniatshvili and violinist Ning Feng, culminating in a concert at London’s Barbican Centre with Buniatishvili to launch her Barbican Artist Residency in December. International highlights early in 2025 include a 19-date European tour featuring cycles of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos with Jan Lisiecki alongside works by Errollyn Wallen, Ruth Gipps and Anna Clyne, followed by a visit to the USA with pianist Bruce Liu and an ambitious, player-led residency and performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade with Joshua Bell alongside the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

ASMF has announced a full 2024/25 season at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which includes collaborations with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, pianists Bruce Liu and Alexandra Dariescu, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, violinist Augustin Hadelich and viola soloist Timothy Ridout. ASMF is the principal orchestral partner of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which is the orchestra’s historic home.

Beyond the concert hall, our commitment to a social purpose manifests in impactful projects that harness the power of music to empower people. We have a longstanding history of work which connects with people experiencing homelessness, and our education projects develop autonomy and creativity among emerging musicians worldwide.

Our collective artistic responsibility fosters enduring collaborations with world-renowned soloists, exemplified by our 15-year partnership with Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell. These collaborations showcase the benefits of trust and true artistic collaboration developed over time.

Building on its rich global legacy, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields remains one of the world’s most-recorded orchestras, igniting a love for classical music in people around the world through live performance and digital initiatives. Today, we continue a busy international touring programme alongside a significant presence in the UK – making us one of the country’s most celebrated cultural exports.

JANUARY 2025