Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell

Two world-renowned musical acts, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, join forces in an unforgettable performance. 

Hailing from London, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is an internationally acclaimed orchestra celebrated for its awe-inspiring interpretations and mastery of the classical repertoire. Led by Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell since 2011, the orchestra has captivated audiences worldwide since 1958. 

Grammy-winning American violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of the era. Bell has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, with a career spanning almost four decades. His work on the film soundtrack for The Red Violin garnered an Academy Award, and his vast discography of 40 albums has earned him Grammy, Mercury®, Gramophone, and OPUS KLASSIK awards. In 2007, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post story, centered on Bell performing incognito in a Washington, DC Metro station, sparked an ongoing conversation regarding artistic reception. The feature inspired Kathy Stinson’s 2013 children’s book, The Man with the Violin, and an animated film with music by Academy Award-winning composer Anne Dudley. 

Bell performs on the famous 1713 Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius violin, which was the subject of international news when it was stolen, not once, but twice, from Jewish Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman. After its discovery in 1987, Joshua Bell purchased the instrument in 2001. 

Program

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, op. 61 

ROBERT SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B♭ Major, op. 38 "Spring"