Ensemble Hesperi
Handel in the Strand

On the Strand, the most vibrant of London's thorough-fares, and home to most of London's famous music shops and print houses, John Walsh first produced Handel's trio sonatas and Corelli's ever-popular Op. 5 violin sonatas. Only a matter of streets away, Scottish entrepreneurial musicians like James Oswald set up their own music shops along the Strand, feeding the craze for Scottish music in the capital. In the theatres, Handel directed the first performances of his operas and oratorios, working with mezzo-soprano Elisabetta de Gambarini and star oboist Giuseppe Sammartini. Just along the road at the Temple Church, John Playford sold his best-selling books of dance tunes, and we meet Henry Purcell and his teacher John Blow competing in an organ battle!
Shropshire Music Trust
Fri, 15 March 2024
St Alkmunds Church | Shrewsbury
7:30pm
£18
- ➕1 other performance
Full Event Details
In the early 1700s, London was quickly becoming the musical hub of Europe, attracting the great Handel himself, alongside a multitude of French and Italian musicians who seized the opportunity to play in London's thriving theatre district. In this programme we capture the spirit of music-making across the city, from theatres to taverns and music in the home.
On the Strand, the most vibrant of London's thorough-fares, and home to most of London's famous music shops and print houses, John Walsh first produced Handel's trio sonatas and Corelli's ever-popular Op. 5 violin sonatas. Only a matter of streets away, Scottish entrepreneurial musicians like James Oswald set up their own music shops along the Strand, feeding the craze for Scottish music in the capital. In the theatres, Handel directed the first performances of his operas and oratorios, working with mezzo-soprano Elisabetta de Gambarini and star oboist Giuseppe Sammartini. Just along the road at the Temple Church, John Playford sold his best-selling books of dance tunes, and we meet Henry Purcell and his teacher John Blow competing in an organ battle!
Venue Details & Map
Location
St Alkmunds Church | Shrewsbury
Church Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UL, United Kingdom
Other performances
In addition to the performance listed above, this concert will also be performed as follows:
Show past performances of this programme
Related upcoming events

Jane Austen: Home and Away
Fri, 11 July 2025
Turner Sims Concert Hall
6:00pm
£20, £10 students & u18s

Tales of Telemann
Fri, 18 July 2025
All Saints Church, King’s Lynn
6:00pm
£17.50, £13 student, u25
Kings Lynn Festival

The Fund for Decay'd Musicians
Sun, 10 August 2025
St Michael’s Church, Escley
3:30pm
£20, £10 u25
Concerts for Craswall