BSB and Bach

A lovely review of The Brook Street Band's Bach Trio Sonatas CD in Gramophone Magazine. The disc is picked as 'the Gramophone Choice' in this particular genre.

Louis de Bernieres "Mr. Handel"

Apologies for radio silence, but the past few months have been spent gearing up for the Band's forthcoming Wigmore Hall performance with amazing author Louis de Bernieres. This takes place on 7 Decemeber, featuring a newly commissioned stage-play about Handel, that Louis has written for the Band. Louis himself plays Mr Handel.

Handel Cello Sonatas

After a busy summer (more about that to come) it's always nice to come back to a good review. America's Listen Magazine has published an article on AVIE Records' 10 years in the CD industry, and the article picks one of the Band's CDs (Handel Cello Sonatas) out as a highlight. http://www.listenmusicmag.com/looking-back/savvy-and-serendipity.php?page=all

Handel in Somerset

I am finally recovering from the most wonderful weekend with The Band, giving concerts and talks for Cossington Concerts in Somerset. This series was set up in 2002 by the late great Stanley Sadie and his wife Julie Anne, and has continued since Stanley's passing in 2005. The Band performed the trio sonata from Bach's Musical Offering, preceded by a talk about the piece. The following day The Band gave a programme called Eccentric Englishmen, inspired by some of Stanley's doctoral research into English chamber music in the 18th century. In between, Julie's amazing cooking kept us all going, not to mention talks about Handel. A huge thank you to David and Julie Anne from The Brook Street Band! A most inspiring weekend, which culminated with the Nancy Carr competition, awarded to a promising young Somerset musician. It was a real privilege to judge this and hear some amazing upcoming talent.

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.