Hazel Brooks, violin · David Pollock, harpsichord
Hazel Brooks and David Pollock have been charming audiences with their performances since 1999. Fired by a shared commitment to present music of the 17th and 18th centuries in an accessible way, these two prize-winning musicians have performed together throughout the UK and beyond. Of particular note are their highly-acclaimed concerts at the Early Music Festival in Barcelona.
Programmes by the duo have been praised for their varied and colourful textures. They generally mix much-loved works such as the sonatas of Bach and Handel with pieces by lesser-known composers. Hazel and David have developed a sensitive and communicative performing style which has led to many return invitations from promoters. Spoken introductions bring to life the musical and historical context of each piece and form an important part of their concerts. Their CD L’Eleganza was released last year on the Singing Space label.
www.duodorado.co.uk
Hazel Brooks read languages at Clare College, Cambridge. After graduation she studied violin at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she received a scholarship to study with Micaela Comberti. During this time Hazel won various prizes including the Christopher Kite Memorial Prize and the Bankers Trust Pyramid Award, and was a finalist in the international competitions in York and Antwerp. As a specialist in baroque and classical violin, Hazel works principally as a recitalist although she also plays with some of the leading period-instrument orchestras. Recital venues have ranged from the South Bank Centre in London to the Barcelona Early Music Festival. She has released a solo CD with harpsichordist David Pollock. Hazel is also interested in medieval music and is in demand as a vielle-player throughout Europe and America. She is currently involved in an exciting project combining Western and Moroccan musicians in an attempt to recreate the music of medieval Spain. She is guest professor of early music at the Guildhall.
‘flexible and virtuosic’ - Boston Herald
David Pollock specialised in the harpsichord at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music where he won the Croft Early Music First Prize. Since then he has appeared throughout the British Isles as a harpsichord recitalist playing at major venues such as St David’s Hall, Cardiff and London’s South Bank. He has performed Bach’s Goldberg Variations as part of the annual international festivals at Edinburgh and Brighton, and has given acclaimed recitals at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Much in demand as a concerto soloist, he recently performed the complete harpsichord concertos of J. S. Bach. As a continuo player, David has worked with many prominent musicians in the period instrument field. He has promoted new repertoire for the harpsichord, including a large-scale solo work written for him by Gavin Stevens, premiered as part of the Chichester Festivities, and is currently engaged in a project to encourage contemporary composers to contribute to a latter-day ‘Virginals Booke’. David has released two solo CDs on the London Independent Records label, The French Harpsichord and O Mistris Myne.
‘an assured sense of style and commitment’ - The Scotsman
Praise for the duo
‘Technical and imaginative dexterity…the harpsichord and violin blended together in exquisite harmonies’ - Chichester Observer
‘A huge range of styles, tones and moods… made an excellent all-round performance’ - Richmond Times
‘Inspirational…from the wonderfully dreamy opening to the high-spirited finale!’ - Petersfield Post
Forthcoming Concerts
Friday 25 April, 7.30pm - Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Tuesday 6 May, 7.30pm - Beaford Arts at Winkleigh Village Hall, Devon
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Sunday 18 May, 11.00am - Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond-upon-Thames
VIVA VIVALDI!
Tuesday 3 June, 1.05pm - Fairfield Halls, Croydon
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Friday 6 June, 7.30pm - Beaford Arts at Chittlehampton Church, Devon
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Saturday 7 June - Beaford Arts, venue to be confirmed
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Thursday 31 July, 12.00 midday - Fenton House, Hampstead
VIVA ITALIA
Saturday 4 October, 12.30pm - East Finchley Arts Festival, London N2
Programme to be decided
Wednesday 15 October - Saddleworth Chamber Concerts - Millgate Arts Centre, Delph
A BAROQUE MUSICAL FEAST
Thursday 16 October - Classics at Kirkleatham, The Chapel, Sir William Turner's Almshouses, near Redcar
THE KING'S DELIGHT
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