| Biography | Sir Neville Marriner CH CBE (15 April 1924-2 October 2016) was an English violinist who became "one of the world's greatest conductors". He founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and his partnership with them is the most recorded of any orchestra and conductor.
Marriner was born in Lincoln, England and attended Lincoln Grammar School, Royal College of Music (RCM) and Paris Conservatoire. He briefly taught music at Eton College and in 1948 become a professor at the RCM. He played violin in the Philharmonia Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). In 1959 Marriner founded the Acadmy of St Martin in the Fields.
Marriner was the founder and first music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, from 1969 to 1978. From 1979 to 1986, he was music director of the Minnesota Orchestra. He was principal conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1989.
Marriner has recorded for various labels, including Argo, L'Oiseau Lyre, Philips and EMI Classics. His recorded repertoire ranges from the baroque era to 20th century British music, as well as opera. Among his recordings are two CDs of British music for Philips Classics with Julian Lloyd Webber, including acclaimed performances of Benjamin Britten's Cello Symphony and Sir William Walton's Cello Concerto. Marriner also supervised the Mozart selections for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Amadeus.
Marriner was knighted in 1985. He was chairman of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields chamber orchestra until 1992, when he was succeeded by Malcolm Latchem. Marriner holds the title of Life President. He is the father of the clarinettist Andrew Marriner, Principal Clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra. |