classical

A generation ago, a regional British ensemble known as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, founded by a violinist turned conductor by the name of Neville Marriner, suddenly seemed like the orchestra that could do anything. Record bins spilled over with their releases, with an emphasis on the late baroque through the classical and early romantic era. The sheer quantity of their output at the time was a cause for suspicion; how could any group spew out so much music and still deliver quality and distinction? A New Yorker cartoon at the time had a parrot, listening to the radio, squawking "Neville Marriner! Neville Marriner!" And yet, with one release after another, the level of music-making remained astoundingly high, with playing of precision, alertness and intelligence that nevertheless did not fatigue the ear.

The Academy's recording activities have since diminished (like everyone else's in the classical biz), and Sir Neville has long since moved on (where is he these days, anyway?), but the band plays on. They visit our side of the pond this week, led by another fiddler, the suave and delightful Gil Shaham. The program is light and lovely, with Shaham soloing in a Mozart concerto, and also conducting music by Tchaikovsky and Arensky.

Tue., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $27-$67, Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.