The Blackheath Halls Sessions

After the coronavirus stopped concerts and tours in their tracks back in March 2020, Academy musicians first performed together again at a series of recording sessions at Blackheath Halls in August, filming the Shostakovich Chamber Symphony, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings and Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry – ‘Londonderry Air’ (Danny Boy).


Elgar Serenade for Strings

This three-movement Serenade of 1892 was a breakthrough work for Elgar and was one of the first of his works to make any kind of international impact. It’s one of his earliest works in which his distinctive voice is clearly apparent.

Tomo Keller director


Shostakovich Chamber Symphony

Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.8 – arranged for string orchestra as the Chamber Symphony Op.110a by Rudolf Barshai – is one of the most powerful and personal works of art of the twentieth-century.

Tomo Keller director

Films by Wash Media, Audio by Eastwood Records


Thank you

We are extremely grateful to the individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors who supported the making of this film. Thanks to them we could create both much-needed work for our freelance musicians and new digital content to share with music lovers across the world.

Special thanks to:
London Community Response Fund
The Radcliffe Trust
FTI Consulting
Jefferies
Fidelity
Lady Marriner
Maria Cardamone and Paul Matthews
Simon Haslam and Kate Alcock

If you have enjoyed this film please consider supporting us so that we can make more!
We are fundraising for new projects and you can donate here.