Julia Fischer / Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Always with an ace up their sleeve

There are very special combinations of works that are only found in the concert programmes of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields: Haydn’s legendary »Farewell Symphony«, with which he discreetly drew Prince Esterházy’s attention to the fact that his musicians needed a holiday, and Tchaikovsky’s »Souvenir d’un lieu cher« is one such typically brilliant combination. The longing of the court orchestra to be allowed to leave the Esterházys’ country estate at least for a while comes together here with Tchaikovsky’s longing for an invitation to visit the estate of his patroness Nadeshda von Meck again. And with Julia Fischer as the soloist, the chamber orchestra has another ace up their sleeve that guarantees a pleasurable evening. The unpretentious top violinist has been closely connected with the Academy for many years.