The Jewish Connection explores some of the chamber music that was composed in London by Jews in the eighteenth century.

Since Jews at this time, because of persecution, didn't openly practice their religion, finding records of these composers has been a challenge. There were several synagogues in London where music would have been heard but we have turned instead to the vast surviving repertory of secular chamber music.

Our concert features the music of Giacobbe Basevi Cervetto, the famed Italian émigré cellist who suffered much anti-Semitism during his 101 year life. Nicola Haym features with one of his melancholy violin sonatas, and moving to the end of the eighteenth century we present variations for violin and continuo by Johann Peter Saloman, the famous violinist and impresario (pictured left).

Linking all of this is the music of George Frideric Handel, himself a non-Jew. However, through his exalted position in London's musical life, he worked with both Haym and Cervetto, and posthumously provided the theme for Saloman's variations.

The culturally diverse mix that was to be found in eighteenth century London reflected Handel's theist attitude, and was one of the reasons that he settled here. It seems only fitting therefore for The Brook Street Band to include his music in a Jewish Connection programme.