Episode 11: Lady Marriner in conversation with Sir David Attenborough

Latest ASMF Podcast episode

In this very special edition of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Podcast, we eavesdrop on a conversation between Lady Marriner and Sir David Attenborough speaking about the history, performances and recordings of the Academy and our founder Sir Neville Marriner.

Molly Marriner, widow of Sir Neville, had a vital role in supporting and nurturing the orchestra – who she describes as family – through its early years, and Sir David became a good friend of the Marriners after meeting Sir Neville on a tour to Japan in the 1960s. The Academy’s partnership with Sir Neville Marriner became the most recorded of any orchestra and conductor, but it began simply as a group of friends, regularly gathering to rehearse in Sir Neville and Molly’s front room in South Kensington.

As the Academy approaches its 60th anniversary year, we joined Molly and Sir David in the very same room to hear some of their memories.


Podcast producer: Ben Eshmade

Photographer / Videographer: Fraser Watson


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Watch exclusive video clips from the recording below:




MUSICAL EXCERPTS

All musical excerpts in this podcast are from Academy recordings, conducted or directed from the violin by Sir Neville Marriner.

Mozart – Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (No. 10) from Mozart Double Piano Concertos with soloists Lucas and Arthur Jussen. Provided courtesy of Universal Music Netherlands.

Corelli – Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6, No. 6
Corelli – Concerto Grosso in D major, Op. 6, No. 1
Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in B-flat major, RV 383a, La Stravaganza
Baermann – Adagio for clarinet and strings in D flat major
Handel – Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 3, No. 1, HWV 312
ButterworthThe Banks of Green Willow
StraussMetamorphosen
The above Decca and Argo recordings all provided courtesy of Universal Music Group.

ElgarIn The South
Provided courtesy of Collins Classics / Phoenix Music International

 

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Image © Fraser Watson