description Neville Marriner Overview
Sir Neville Marriner was an English violinist and conductor who founded the chamber orchestra Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 1958. He initially led the ensemble from the violin before developing an extensive conducting career in Britain and abroad. Marriner and the Academy produced a large recorded catalogue spanning Baroque, Classical, and later orchestral music, and their recordings were used prominently in the film Amadeus.
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What orchestra did Neville Marriner found?
Sir Neville Marriner founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 1958. Originally a small chamber ensemble, it grew to become one of the world's most renowned and extensively recorded orchestras.
What is Neville Marriner's connection to the film Amadeus?
Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields provided the iconic soundtrack for the 1984 Oscar-winning film Amadeus. He was asked to do the recording by director Miloš Forman because of the ensemble's highly respected interpretations of Mozart.
How did Neville Marriner initially lead his orchestra?
When he first formed the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Marriner led the ensemble from the concertmaster's chair while playing the violin. He eventually transitioned to conducting exclusively with a baton as the group's size and repertoire expanded.
Was Neville Marriner knighted for his work in music?
Yes, Neville Marriner was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 for his monumental services to music. His extensive discography of classical music recordings remains among the largest of any conductor or violinist.
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