#loveHandel - an occasional podcast dedicated to the great baroque composer George Frideric Handel Tatty Theo

To support the release of "Heinrich Schütz - A German in Venice" (First Hand Records FHR 145) , The Brook Street Band's new recording with tenor David de Winter, Tatty and David chat about the music, their love of the language Latin, the making of the CD and its varied instrumentation... and quite possibly...food!

One of the key German composers before Bach with more than 500 surviving individual pieces, Heinrich Schütz wrote mainly church music, and is credited with bringing the Italian style to Germany and continuing its evolution from the Renaissance into the early Baroque. Although he lived most of his long life in Germany, in his twenties Schütz made two visits to Venice. The first was between 1609 and 1613 when he was taught by Giovanni Gabrieli; and the second in the late 1620s to meet and possibly study under Monteverdi. The two trips greatly influenced Schütz’s music as he absorbed and began to combine the ornate and theatrical Venetian style with the more understated Lutheran tradition in which he grew up.

This album explores his solo cantatas alongside examples of the brilliant and virtuosic Venetian style instrumental music.



The CD is available here

Deviating from her usual Handelian subject matter Tatty Theo is joined by conductor John Andrews for a chat about John Frederick Lampe's opera "The Dragon of Wantley".

Tatty, baroque cellist and founder of award-winning music ensemble The Brook Street Band, has always loved the composer George Frideric Handel's music. In the #loveHandel podcast, Tatty usually shares her passion for Handel, with information about Handel's life and music, and why she thinks it is so great. Today she adds Lampe's wonderful music into the mix, so here's to a whole new audience getting to #loveHandel and #loveLampe's music!

"The Dragon of Wantley" is the BBC Music Magazine Opera award winner in 2023 and is available from Resonus Classics and all the usual music websites and streaming platforms. With thanks to the Continuo Foundation for its generous sponsorship of the recording.

Tatty Theo delves into the history of Handel's now-famous oratorio "Israel in Egypt".

Tatty, baroque cellist and founder of award-winning music ensemble The Brook Street Band, has always loved the composer George Frideric Handel's music. In the #loveHandel podcast, Tatty shares her passion for Handel, with information about Handel's life and music, and why she thinks it is so great. Here's to a whole new audience getting to #loveHandel's music!

Tatty Theo, cellist and founder of award-winning music ensemble The Brook Street Band, has always loved the composer George Frideric Handel's music. In the #loveHandel podcast, Tatty shares her passion for Handel, with information about Handel's life and music, and why she thinks it is so great. Here's to a whole new audience getting to #loveHandel's music!

loveHandel - Handel's Oratorios

Even if you don't think you know any Handel, you'll recognise some of the melodies from his most famous composition of all, The Messiah. Tatty Theo looks at Handel's creation of the English oratorio, giving a brief history and background to these wonderful pieces, as well as exploring their legacy.

With thanks to Arts Council England and #NationalLottery and its players, for funding this project.

Tatty Theo, cellist and founder of award-winning music ensemble The Brook Street Band, has always loved the composer George Frideric Handel's music. In the #loveHandel podcast, Tatty shares her passion for Handel, with information about Handel's life and music, and why she thinks it is so great. Here's to a whole new audience getting to #loveHandel's music!

loveHandel - Handel's Oxford Connection

Handel visited the city of Oxford in July 1733, to give a series of concerts and receive an honorary degree in music. Tatty Theo takes us through Handel's time in Oxford, looking at the music performed, and how Handel's time there was reported in the press. The week was a huge success for him, financially and in terms of raising his profile, but he never did manage to get that degree...

With thanks to Arts Council England and #NationalLottery and its players, for funding this project.

Tatty Theo, cellist and founder of award-winning music ensemble The Brook Street Band, has always loved the composer George Frideric Handel's music. In the #loveHandel podcast, Tatty shares her passion for Handel, with information about Handel's life and music, and why she thinks it is so great. Here's to a whole new audience getting to #loveHandel's music!

loveHandel - Handel in Italy

Handel's time in Italy as a young man was hugely important for his musical development. Tatty explores musical life in the four cities Handel spent time in, leading to his stratospheric career in London. There might be a hint at dalliances with singers too...

With thanks to Arts Council England and #NationalLottery and its players, for funding this project.