Just Flutes: Rachel Brown

Something Old, Something New, Recital with Baroque Flute & Harpsichord Rachel Brown flute, Laurence Cummings harpsichord

JS Bach Suite in C minor for flute and obbligato harpsichord, BWV 997
Brown Telemanesque Fantasy in C# minor for solo flute
JJ Quantz Sonata in B flat major for flute and continuo, No.272
Brown Song before Sunrise for solo flute
JS Bach Sonata in major for obbligato harpsichord and flute, BWV 1032

A leading exponent of historical flutes, Rachel Brown is in great demand worldwide, as a soloist, orchestral player and teacher. As principal flute and recorder player with the Academy of Ancient Music, the Hanover Band, the Brandenburg Consort, Collegium Musicum 90 and Ex Cathedra, she has recorded extensively, performed and taught worldwide.

Deeply committed to teaching, Rachel is a Professor at the Royal College of Music in London. Her acclaimed solo recordings include the Telemann Fantasias, sonatas and concertos by JS, CPE and JC Bach, Handel, Quantz, Leclair and Vivaldi. Her rendition of virtuosic works by Schubert and Boehm on 19th century simple-system, ring-keyed and Boehm alto flutes has been described as "a revelation" (Pan) and her recording of the CPE Bach D minor concerto was voted best by Polish radio.

Her recording of the complete Handel flute and recorder sonatas Op.1 with the AAM has been described as “heart-rending” (BBC Music Magazine) and “enchanting” (The Independent). Rachel is a founder member and soloist with the London Handel Players with whom she has recorded four discs of Handel’s chamber music, described as "perfection itself" (Pan).

Rachel’s publications include The Early Flute, A Practical Guide (CUP), cadenzas for the Mozart Concertos (Bärenreiter) and two volumes of Quantz Flute Sonatas (Uppernote). A practice book for the flute is in preparation and she is collaborating with dancer, Mary Collins and violinist, Adrian Butterfield on a guide to baroque dances for musicians. With a vision of new possibilities for the baroque flute she has recently begun composing.

Laurence Cummings is one of Britain's most exciting and versatile exponents of historical performance both as a conductor and a harpsichord player. A noted authority on Handel, he is Music Director of the Academy of Ancient Music and Orquestra Barroca Casa da Música in Porto and held positions as Artistic Director of the Internationale Händel-Festpiele Göttingen for ten years and musical Director of the London Handel Festival for 25 years.