Minerva Baroque – Handel’s Music Room

Minerva Baroque boldly took us back in time to an early Georgian Music Room, Mr Handel’s, no less, 25 Brook Street in Mayfair, now a rather formal museum to the maestro and to the other famous resident, Jimi Hendrix. The Brighton Dome Studio Theatre doesn’t have quite the same intimacy but Danni O’Neill’s playful introductions had her audience imagining a domestic scene, albeit at some jeopardy to sopranos!

Their programme evoked Handel immediately with a joyful aria from Messiah, surely his greatest calling card. The heavy black curtaining behind the performers did the soprano voice no favours and O’Neill had her work cut out projecting into the theatre but she made it seem effortless, a song among friends.

Minerva Ensemble in the Handel House

Iain Hall , on the other hand, must have been employing all of his musicality to play quietly enough, his cello facing us full on with an ample, rich resonance.

May Robertson’s violin had a plaintive tone in the first of the German Arias, so it was worth that moment of tuning before she began the spectacular Corelli sonata. The contrast was exquisite, as was the whole programme. The main item, the Italian cantata, was full of variety and given with such lively expression. O’Neill’s characterisation was a treat.

Callum Anderson now brought his harpsichord to the fore with a delightful sonata by Thomas Arne. The ground bass of the very familiar Purcell and the jaunty Playford put the spotlight on Hall’s cello while giving a bit more context to this musical entertainment which concluded with another jolly German aria.

Did Minerva Baroque succeed in conjuring up the domestic setting of the Handel House in Brighton’s Dome complex? Well, yes, they made a very full auditorium seem almost cosy. They certainly know their Handel, and how to play him, for laughs given the chance.

Andrew Connal
Brighton Dome Studio Theatre,
7 May 2026

Rating:

Minerva Baroque
Danni O’Neill – soprano
May Robertson – violin
Iain Hall – cello
Callum Anderson – harpsichord

Programme:
George Frideric Handel – Rejoice Greatly (Messiah)
Handel – Süsse Stille (Nine German Arias)
Arcangelo Corelli – Sonata in D major, opus 5 no.1
Handel – Un’alma innamorata
Thomas Arne – Sonata in F major for harpsichord
Henry Purcell – Music for a While
John Playford – Duke of Norfolk/Paul’s Steeple
Handel – Singe Seele (Nine German Arias)