Brook Street Band

The Brook Street Band (‘ensemble so pin-sharp it merits a safety warning’ – BBC Music Magazine) is named after the London street where George Frideric Handel lived from 1723–59. It was formed in 1996–1997 by baroque cellist Tatty Theo, rapidly establishing itself amongst the UK’s leading Handel specialists, winning grants, awards, and broadcasting opportunities from organisations including Radio 3 and the Handel Institute. The Brook Street Band has enjoyed an unusually stable core membership, its players working together for over twenty years; this longevity has enabled it to develop a style of performing and music-making that is precise and spontaneous, with musicians able to react instinctively to each other and play as one. As Petworth Festival commented, ‘There’s something that’s really warm, effortless and relaxed about a Brook Street show. The musicians clearly enjoy each other’s work, as of course do we, the audience! Lovely programming, great musicianship…’

18th-century chamber repertoire has always been The Brook Street Band’s driving passion, focusing particularly on Handel’s music, and it has built up a considerable reputation for its fresh, innovative performances, zingy communication style and sense of fun. Alongside its chamber music schedule, The Brook Street Band regularly works with soloists, conductors, choirs, and venues for larger-scaled orchestral and vocal projects. Recent collaborations include an early Venetian Baroque concert and recording project ‘Heinrich Schütz – a German in Venice’ with tenor David de Winter.

The Brook Street Band currently performs and teaches throughout the UK and Europe and has established love: Handel, its own critically acclaimed music festival which takes place biennially in Norwich, incorporating wide-ranging educational work supported through its charitable trust. It regularly broadcasts for Radio 3 and Classic FM, and its extensive discography has been singled out for high acclaim, with accolades including Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice and inclusion in the chamber music/small ensemble selection category at the Grammy Awards. Its world-premiere recording of ‘Dragon of Wantley’ (an English opera by Handel’s bassoonist JF Lampe) proved to be something of a hit, winning the Opera Award in the 2023 BBC Music Magazine Awards. The Band featured at the world’s first ever ‘Handeliades’, immersive four-day events of concerts, masterclasses and talks given by world-renowned Handel experts.

The Band is hugely grateful for the support of Continuo Foundation for various projects, including its ‘Heinrich Schütz – a German in Venice’ and ‘Dragon of Wantley’ recordings.