Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Pre-Concert Talk at 6:30 pm

Joshua Bell, conductor and violin

Sponsored by Roberta Holland and Jane & Larry Sherman

Camille Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3
Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, op. 88

Few ensembles embody elegance quite like the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Founded in London in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy has become one of the world’s most admired chamber orchestras, acclaimed for its clarity of sound and stylish performances. Today, the group thrives under the leadership of Joshua Bell, who appears both as director and violin soloist.

Bell takes center stage in Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3, a brilliant and lyrical work originally written for the virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. The concerto combines sweeping Romantic melodies with dazzling passages for the soloist — the perfect vehicle for Bell’s radiant tone and expressive artistry.

The program continues with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G major, a work brimming with melody, folk-inspired rhythms, and radiant orchestral color. Often described as Dvořák’s most joyful symphony, it moves from pastoral lyricism to exuberant dance-like finales, offering a feast of sound that feels both intimate and grand.

With Joshua Bell at the helm, the Academy brings a rare blend of virtuosity and warmth, promising an evening of music-making that is as refined as it is exhilarating.