The Handel project

Very much looking forward to the start of The Band's 3 year Handel education project. Taster day tomorrow at Rhodes Avenue Primary and next week at Bealings Primary.

Burlington, Brook Street, Hanover Square...

Just a few of my favourite Handel stomping grounds, and I get to visit them all imminently. I wonder if Handel would approve of Crossrail? Or trains, come to think of it! I like to think that he's just around the corner, slightly out of vision, always one step ahead of me, but there nonetheless.

The opera

I went to the opera last night, not to see a Handel production, but ENO's beautiful Madame Butterfly. The production was stunning, and in the intervals I indulged in a bit of people-watching. This past-time easily dates back to the 18th century, and as I spied a smattering of supermodels, celebrities and familiar faces, I was again reminded of how little things have changed since Handel's time. Luckily the vogue for fruit-throwing has gone out of fashion (though I doubt many could have found fault with this production), but people still talk through the performance (sadly) and munch away on sweets and snacks, though not full-blown banquets in the 21st century. No capon for dinner, at least not in the middle of Act 2.

Describing Handel

I had a meeting yesterday with a potential director for a staged Handel offering. I had one hour to win him over to the project, so I decided to tell him what it is I love about Handel and his music. Why is it still so important and relevant, over 250 years after his death? What is his universal appeal? Well - I'm not going to list everything here, but in a nutshell, I believe that one of the reasons he is still so popular and admired is that he translates beautifully into the present day, like any great artist. He was clearly of his time in mid 18th century London, but equally, I can imagine him today, programming a website, trading stocks and shares and exploring new musical possibilities. He'd feel totally at home with the London coffee culture too!

Apologies to Handel

I found myself at the National Portrait Gallery on Monday, and went to see Handel. I hadn't noticed before quite how elegant his fingers are - nothing like the fat piggy fingers, described as being too big to fit on the keys of the keyboard. I did feel the need to apologise to him though, due to some rather severe cuts made in a performance of Jephtha that the Band had given. These were totally out of our control and most were understandable and necessitated by making a 3 hour piece into a 2 hour piece. BUT...The Angel Symphony? That was too much!

Handel's Jephtha

How dark, O Lord, are Thy decrees,
All hid from mortal sight...

Preparing for Jephtha this coming week. What a privilege to play this amazing piece of music.

On Tour

We're at Repton in Derbyshire en route for Ilkley. After a great day of rehearsals and a lovely meal at Nicki's, we woke to snow. Lost for words...Let's hope we can all get up to Yorkshire. The sunglasses we packed seem somewhat superfluous.

Anyway, British comments about the weather aside, its been a great few days so far and a real privilege to make music together again. At times like this I am reminded of how wonderful my job is, and how much I need Handel (and Bach) in my life!