Neville Marriner, prominent classical conductor, dies at 92

Sir Neville Marriner in 1979
Neville Marriner led the Minnesota Orchestra from 1979 to 1986
Courtesy of the Minnesota Orchestra

The classical music world is mourning the death of Sir Neville Marriner. The British conductor and violinist died Sunday at age 92.

He's best known for founding the London-based Academy of St. Martin in the Fields chamber orchestra in the late 1950s. The ensemble has been known for decades for its prodigious output of recorded music.

Marriner also served as the Minnesota Orchestra's music director from 1979 to 1986.

"When the orchestra hired him, I believe he was the most recorded conductor in the world, and so it was a real feather in our cap to get him here," said Minnesota Orchestra cellist Marcia Peck.

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Peck said Marriner had a collegial style that translated well to a large American symphony.

"He loved being collaborative, he loved feeling like we were all working together toward making music," Peck said.

Marriner last led the Minnesota Orchestra as guest conductor during the 2006-2007 season.

He was scheduled to return to Orchestra Hall in January for performances of Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, and Dvorak's Symphony No. 8.