"Matthew Brook’s King was beautifully characterised and sung"
Anna Picard, The Times
"Matthew Brook found depth of feeling in the role of the King of Scotland"
Richard Fairman, The Financial Times
"The tremendous Matthew Brook combines power and pathos........"
The Guardian

WELCOME!
Welcome to Matthew Brook’s website.
During these difficult times of Covid 19, I wanted to assure you, like many of my beloved colleagues in the arts, that I’m still working hard behind the scenes, despite not being allowed to perform on a wide scale at the moment.
I have used this time to rest and prepare for future projects, that may, or may not happen. As artists we have an inbuilt need to discover more each day. A sports athlete would continue to work out and train, and so do we. It keeps us sane, keeping to routines and being disciplined in keeping good vocal and mental health.
I am relishing the extra time on my hands to work on music familiar and unfamiliar, delving into careful language preparation, reading around the subject matter, memorising music, trying new and demanding repertoire. In many ways it feels like a luxury to have this time, and although financially we are having to find new ways of living while the wait for the arrival of a vaccine, we never lose hope that audiences will have a thirst to hear us tell our stories on stage again.
The new knowledge we have acquired in technology has been a challenge at times, but it is amazing how we have adapted and created online performances for many a good cause. It has helped to keep us focussed and moving forward in our world of discovery.
Concerts have come and gone over the months. All the largescale tours and festivals have suffered terribly, so we have adapted to smaller scale chamber concerts, often getting new arrangements of music to work with fewer players and in smaller venues. We have designed new programmes that can be safely performed for small audiences, and highlights have included Handel’s Acis and Galatea to an audience of 25, sung twice in a day, Bach cantatas, online St John Passions, many podcasts and mentoring schemes for young singers held online. The Bitesize Proms, devised by Jennifer Johnston provided an opportunity for me to sing with an old college friend, Malcolm Martineau. Check online for the lovely song we recorded, Schubert’s “An die Leier”.
I am preparing Schubert’s Winterreise with Anna Markland. We have worked together all our careers, and hope to get some opportunities to perform the cycle in the future. I am also working on a programme of Wagner with Iain Burnside, music from Die Walkure, Tristan und Isolde, and songs. “A View from the Villa” is a theatre piece with Sue Bickley and Victoria Newlyn, it is based around the Wesendonck songs. It has humour, and plenty of searing drama. One to look out for. I will also record Bach’s cantata number 82 Ich habe genug with my dear colleagues the Dunedin Consort in December. It is something I have longed to do for years, and with John Butt, Philip Hobbs and Linn records in support, it promises to be a highlight of my year. I also was able to record a Purcell disc with The King’s Consort, Iestyn Davies and Carolyn Sampson and other fantastic singers. It was such a joy to gather and sing together after a famine of normal activity.
My diary for the rest of the season is brimming with lots of delights. There is a strong possibility some of it will not happen, but you can rest assured, I am not sitting idle, I write this with hope that things will return to normal as some point. Please keep supporting the arts. We will return with such vigour, you’ll want to witness it!
Best wishes
Matthew Brook
October 2020
UPCOMING Performances
Orchestra of St. Luke's - Carnegie Hall
14 Mar 2020 | Guildford Chamber Choir / J.S.Bach / St Matthew Passion
Holy Trinity Church, Guilford
21 Mar 2020 | Leeds Festival Chorus / Royal Northern Sinfonia / Mendelssohn's Elijah
Leeds International Concert Season - Leeds Town Hall
03 Apr 2020 | Handel and Haydn Society / Bach St Matthew Passion (Christus)
Handel and Haydn Society - Boston Symphony Hall
05 Apr 2020 | Handel and Haydn Society / Bach St Matthew Passion (Christus)
Handel and Haydn Society - Boston Symphony Hall
24 APR 2020 | Boston Baroque / Ariodante (King of Scotland)
Boston Baroque - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
RECENT Performances
15 Feb 2020 | Teatro de la Maestranza / Agrippina (Claudio)
Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla - Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla
13 Feb 2020 | Teatro de la Maestranza / Agrippina (Claudio)
Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla - Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla
Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla - Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla
13 Nov 2019 | Freiburg Baroque Orchestra / Purcell and Handel Odes
19 Dec 2019 | National Arts Centre Orchestra / Messiah
Ottawa National Arts Centre - National Arts Centre
18 Dec 2019 | National Arts Centre Orchestra / Messiah
Ottawa National Arts Centre - National Arts Centre
13 Dec 2019 | Les Violons du Roy / Handel Messiah
Les Violons du Roy - Maison symphonique de Montréal
12 Dec 2019 | Les Violons du Roy / Handel Messiah
Les Violons du Roy - Le Palais Montcalm
11 Dec 2019 | Les Violons du Roy / Handel Messiah
Les Violons du Roy - Le Palais Montcalm
05 Dec 2019 | The Sixteen / Handel's Messiah
The Sixteen - Westminster Cathedral
1 Dec 2019 | European Christmas
Bach Players | St. John's, Smith Square, Westminster, London
28 Nov 2019 | European Christmas
Bach Players | The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
17 Nov 2019 | Freiburg Baroque Orchestra / Purcell and Handel Odes
Freiburger Barockorchester - Koelner Philharmonie
15 Nov 2019 | Freiburg Baroque Orchestra / Purcell and Handel Odes
Freiburger Barockorchester - Konzerthaus Freiburg
14 Nov 2019 | Freiburg Baroque Orchestra / Purcell and Handel Odes
Freiburger Barockorchester - Berliner Philharmonie
07 Nov 2019 | CBSO / Mendelssohn's Elijah
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
03 NOV 2019 | Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo / CBSO / Mendelssohn's Elijah
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo - Auditorium Rainier III
12 OCT 2019 | Opéra de Oviedo / Rinaldo (Argante)
Opera de Oviedo - Opera de Oviedo
10 OCT 2019 | Opéra de Oviedo / Rinaldo (Argante)
Opera de Oviedo - Opera de Oviedo
08 OCT 2019 | Opéra de Oviedo / Rinaldo (Argante)
Opera de Oviedo - Opera de Oviedo
06 OCT 2019 | Opéra de Oviedo / Rinaldo (Argante)
Opera de Oviedo - Opera de Oviedo
31 AUG 2019 | Gabrieli Consort / Handel in Italy (Dixit Dominus) (La Chaise Dieu)
Gabrieli Consort
30 AUG 2019 | Gabrieli Consort / Handel in Italy (Dixit Dominus)
Gabrieli Consort - Kloster Eberbach
29 AUG 2019 | Gabrieli Consort / Bach B Minor Mass
Gabrieli Consort - Kloster Eberbach
24 AUG 2019 | Dunedin Consort / EIF / Bach Cantatas (201 and 205)
Dunedin Consort - Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
10 Aug 2019 | Early Music Vancouver / Purcell's Hail Bright Cecilia
Early Music Vancouver - Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria
09 Aug 2019 | Early Music Vancouver / Purcell's Hail Bright Cecilia
Early Music Vancouver - Chan Centre
06 Aug 2019 | Early Music Vancouver / Song of Songs Settings
Early Music Vancouver - Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver
Early Music Vancouver - Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver
16 JUL 2019 | The English Concert / Bach Cantatas (Buxton)
The English Concert
27 JUN 2019 | Festival St Denis / A Child of our time
Festival St Denis - Basilique Saint-Denis
10 Jun 2019 | Dunedin Consort / Boston Early Music Festival / Bach St Matthew Passion
Dunedin Consort - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
22 APR 2019 - 25 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion (Geneva)
Gli Angeli Genève
19 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion
Gli Angeli Genève - KKL Luzern
18 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion
Gli Angeli Genève - Eglise de St-Francois, Lausanne
17 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion
Gli Angeli Genève - Eglise de St-Francois, Lausanne
16 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion
Gli Angeli Genève - Fondation Pierre Gianadda
14 APR 2019 | Gli Angeli Genève / Bach St Matthew Passion
Gli Angeli Genève - Victoria Hall, Geneva
07 APR 2019 | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra / The Dream of Gerontius
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Hilbert Circle Theatre
05 APR 2019 | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra / The Dream of Gerontius
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Hilbert Circle Theatre
31 MAR 2019 | Handel & Haydn Society Dido & Aeneas (Sorcerer)
Handel and Haydn Society - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
30 MAR 2019 | Handel & Haydn Society Dido & Aeneas (Sorcerer)
Handel and Haydn Society - Metropolitan Museum of Art
29 MAR 2019 | Handel & Haydn Society Dido & Aeneas (Sorcerer)
Handel and Haydn Society - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
16 MAR 2019 | The Georgian Concert Society / Theatre of the Ayre / Politics and Power
Georgian Concert Society - St Andrew's and St George's West Church
20 DEC 2018 | Dunedin Consort / Handel Messiah
Dunedin Consort - City Halls, Glasgow
19 DEC 2018 | Dunedin Consort / Handel Messiah
Dunedin Consort - The Queen's Hall
18 DEC 2018 | Dunedin Consort / Handel Messiah
Dunedin Consort - Perth Concert Hall
15 DEC 2018 | Salisbury Choral Foundation / Handel Messiah
Salisbury Cathedral - Salisbury Cathedral
13 DEC 2018 | Oxford Philharmonic / Messiah
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra - Sheldonian Theatre
08 DEC 2018 | Norwegian Wind Ensemble / Handel Messiah (Moss Kirke)
The Norwegian Wind Ensemble
07 DEC 2018 | Norwegian Wind Ensemble / Handel Messiah (Uranienborg Kirke, Oslo)
The Norwegian Wind Ensemble
06 DEC 2018 | Norwegian Wind Ensemble / Handel Messiah
The Norwegian Wind Ensemble - Immanuels Kirke
1 DEC 2018 | 2018 | Ariodante
Stuttgart
22 NOV 2018 | Ariodante
Stuttgart
18 NOV 2018 | Ariodante
Stuttgart
11 NOV 2018 | Huddersfield Choral Society and members of the Youth Choirs | Benjamin Britten: War Requiem
Huddersfield Town Hall | 15:30
10 NOV 2018 | Ripon Choral Society / Britten War Requiem
Ripon Choral Society - Ripon Cathedral
4 NOV 2018 | Bach St John Passion
St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra Minnesota | Johnathan Cohen conductor | Role of Christus
3 NOV 2018 |Bach St John Passion
St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra Minnesota | Johnathan Cohen conductor | Role of Christus
2 NOV 2018 | Bach St John Passion
St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra Minnesota | Johnathan Cohen conductor | Role of Christus
20 OCT 2018 | Instruments of Time and Truth Handel Triumph
Instruments of Time and Truth - Sheldonian Theatre
19 OCT 2018 | Instruments of Time and Truth Handel Triumph
Instruments of Time and Truth - Kings Place
18 OCT 2018 | Vocal Masterclass
Trinity Boys School London
07 Oct 2018 | Instruments of Time and Truth Handel Triumph
Instruments of Time and Truth - Tetbury Music Festival
6 OCT 2018 | Ariodante
Staatstheater Stuttgart Il Re. Christopher Moulds - Conductor
30 SEP 2018 | Ariodante
Staatstheater Stuttgart Il Re. Christopher Moulds - Conductor
15 SEP 2018 | Kristiansund Kirke / Mozart Requiem
Kristiansund Kirke Kunst Kulturfestival - Molde Cathedral
18 AUG 2018 | La Chaise Dieu Festival
France - Conductor: Robert King
17 AUG 2018 | Handel "Israel in Egypt"
The King’s Consort at the Reingau Festival, Germany
13 AUG 2018 | Handel "Samson" | Manoah
Edinburgh Festival Usher Hall - Conductor: John Butt
2 AUG 2018 | St Endellion Festival | Bach “Ich habe genug”
2 AUG 2018 | St Endellion Festival | Wagner
Theatre piece with Iain Burnside singing Wagner excerpts, called “View from the Villa”
01 Jul 2018 | Stour Music Festival / King Arthur
Stour Music Festival
18 Jun 2018 | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Berlioz L'Enfance du Christ / Herod / Father
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Hamer Hall
16 Jun 2018 | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Berlioz L'Enfance du Christ / Herod / Father
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Hamer Hall
15 Jun 2018 | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Berlioz L'Enfance du Christ / Herod / Father
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Hamer Hall
27th May | Halle Händel Festival | Samson | Role of Manoah
Dunedin Consort
21 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Teatro Auditorium Manzoni
20 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour (Pavia)
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra
19 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour (Perugia)
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra
17 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Rudolfinum Concert Hall
16 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Liszt Academy
15 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Musikverein, Vienna
13 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Philharmonie Luxembourg
12 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Koelner Philharmonie
11 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Frauenkirche Dresden
09 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Audimax
08 May 2018 | Monteverdi Choir Bach Cantatas Tour
Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra - Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
29 Apr 2018 | NBV Dido & Aeneas (Aeneas)
Nederlandse Bachvereniging - Het Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
28 Apr 2018 | NBV Dido & Aeneas (Aeneas)
Nederlandse Bachvereniging - De Doelen, Rotterdam
25 Apr 2018 | NBV Dido & Aeneas (Aeneas)
Nederlandse Bachvereniging - Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht
14 Apr 2018 | Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society / Spring Concert
Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society - Llandaff Cathedral
08 Apr 2018 | Handel and Haydn Society / The Fairy Queen
Handel and Haydn Society - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
07 Apr 2018 | Handel and Haydn Society / The Fairy Queen
Handel and Haydn Society - NEC Jordan Hall, Boston
01 Apr 2018 | Dunedin Consort Samson (Krakow)
Dunedin Consort
31 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - The Anvil, Basingstoke
30 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Filharmonia Kraków
27 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
20 Mar 2018 | King / Ariodante
Staatstheater Stuttgart - Staatstheater Stuttgart
21 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Congress Centrum Neue Weimarhalle
22 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Konzerthaus Dortmund
24 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Théâtre des Champs Elysees
26 Mar 2018 | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / St Matthew Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Royal Festival Hall
22nd Dec 2017 | The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge / Bach Christmas Oratorio
21st Dec 2017 | Staatstheater Stuttgart Ariodante (Il Re) Revival
17th Dec 2017 | Staatstheater Stuttgart Ariodante (Il Re) Revival
09th Dec 2017 | Cardiff Polyphonic Choir Messiah
26th NOV 2017 | Bach Cantatas 9, 26 and 167 | Salle Bourgie, Montreal
11th NOV 2017 | Elijah Mendelssohn | Holmfirth Choral Society | Home town!
5th NOV 2017 | Brahms Triumphlied op 55 | Bach Magnificat | Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
4th NOV 2017 | Brahms Triumphlied op 55 | Bach Magnificat | Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
1st NOV 2017 | Bach Lutheran Masses | Dunedin Consort | Grosser Saal. Laeiszhalle. Hamburg. NDR Radio
30th OCT 2017 | Bach Lutheran Masses | Dunedin Consort | Aberdeen University
29th OCT 2017 | Bach Lutheran Masses | Dunedin Consort | Queen's Hall Edinburgh
26th OCT 2017 | Faure Requiem | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | St Paul's Cathedral. London.
25th OCT 2017 |Purcell and Blow recital | York University | Peter Seymour Harpsichord
09 AUG 2017 | The Fairy Queen / Handel and Haydn Society
July 2017 | Verdi Requiem
July 2017 | Bach Cantatas
July 2017 | Verdi Requiem