The Brook Street Band

I’m very glad that the BSB have given us all nine [Handel violin sonatas], and all the more so, given the life with which they’ve imbued them… The various ornamentation, articulation and repeat decision have come off brilliantly. You simply don’t know what’s coming next, which I mean in the best possible way. Bravo!’

Gramophone

‘[The band members] approach everything with a spring in their step, relishing the harmonic crunches and keeping everything vital and vivacious.’

The Guardian Online

‘As a trio, the [BSB] perform superbly and wonderfully sympathetically, with Theo and Gibley supporting Harris in an admirable manner…period performances full of musicality and great style. The BSB bring a lovely combination of virtuosity and vibrancy to the performances, really engaging the audience and making you want to listen for more.’

Planet Hugill

‘none finer than this outstanding recording of Handel’s Sonatas for violin and basso continuo played by The Brook Street Band. The BSB brings the sonatas to life with fresh, eminently stylish accounts, performed with impressive audible detail…Handel’s violin sonatas could hardly receive finer advocacy than these exceptional performances here from The BSB.’

Music Web – Recording of the Month

‘an impressive recording and some infectious music-making from two performers who clearly take great pleasure in playing together.’

Early Music Today

‘Hijinks from Handel … Lovely playing from the first sonata right through the last … the performances convince absolutely as does the recording. Add it to The Brook Street Band’s previous albums with complete confidence.’

BBC Radio 3 Record Review

‘Finely balanced, deliciously spiced, infectiously musical!’

Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3

‘erudite, intimate music, not without violinistic fireworks. The BSB include cello alongside harpsichord for the continuo, satisfyingly grounding the texture. Rachel Harris delivers these eloquent expressions of the violinist’s art with stylish sweetness, her embellishments beautifully measured.’

The Sunday Times

‘So infectious is the enthusiasm of these gifted players for their Baroque master that you will find it hard to suppress a smile at the sheer energy and effervescence’

Anthony Holden, The Observer

Readers familiar with [The BSB’s] invigorating recordings of Handel’s Trio Sonatas Opp. 2 and 5 will not be disappointed by this new release. The finest music, of which there is much reaches a peak with the D Major sonata HWV371 coming across with natural grace and effective articulation.

BBC Music Magazine 4 *

Links

The Brook Street Band is pleased to introduce you to:

Alan Gotto Harpsichords
Matthew King
Aldeburgh Music
The National Centre for Early Music
Rhodes Avenue Primary School
Arts Council England
Nicki Kennedy
Avie Records
PRS for Music Foundation
Dan Bridge
Rhodes Avenue Primary School
The Early Music Company Ltd.
Nicki Kennedy
Ensemble Schirokko
Historische Boegen
PRS for Music Foundation
St. John’s Smith Square
Louis de Bernieres
Rhodes Avenue Primary School
Andrew Wooderson Harpsichords

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