A fascinating man...

A passion for Handel is the driving force for baroque cellist Tatty Theo who brings The Brook Street Band to Chichester.

Featuring two violins, cello and harpsichord, they launch this year’s Chichester Chamber Concerts in the Assembly Room in the Chichester Council House in North Street on Thursday, January 19 at 7.30pm.

Handel is certainly my main love,” says Tatty. “I wanted to look at Handel that had been neglected or not performed enough. I wanted to find Handel that had not been published. I worked on some manuscripts as an undergraduate, and I knew that there were some things for me there. I went back and finished off.”

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The main attraction is that Handel wrote such perfect bass lines: “But I just find him a fascinating person, the fact that he had such a varied and full life. He was not closeted away like so many other other composers. He was an entrepreneur, a free man. Bach was tied to church positions all the time. Handel could write whatever genres he wanted. The main factor for him was always patronage. But he was clearly a real entrepreneur. He made and lost a fortune and was able to make it again. He was able as an immigrant in London life to make a living. He just attracts me as a man. He comes through. I am sure lots of other composers do, but there was just something about Handel. He lived in a part of London that I know well...”

Inevitably, Handel features in the Brook Street Band’s Chichester programme which comprises: J S Bach Trio Sonata BWV1079 from Musical Offering; C P E Bach Trio sonata Wq 161 in C minor; Telemann Trio Sonata in E flat major from Tafelmusik; and Handel Trio Sonata Op. 2 No. 5 in G minor.

“We have been together for 15 years,” Tatty added. “I set it up on leaving music college. I wanted to make chamber music with friends rather than doing orchestral playing, and I approached like-minded colleagues. We have had a few changes in personnel, but we have now got pretty long-standing members. The four of us are the core group.”

Tickets on 01243 781312.

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