Lunchtime Concert: Duo Dorado (Hazel Brooks, violin & David Pollock, harpsichord)

Duo Dorado is formed of two prize-winning international performing artists, Hazel Brooks (baroque violin) and David Pollock (harpsichord), with a shared passion for performing baroque repertoire and bringing it to a wider audience. They first met shortly after completing their studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Hazel) and the Royal Academy of Music (David) and have worked together ever since. Since becoming Making Music selected artists in 2015-16, Duo Dorado has appeared extensively across the UK and beyond. They have been praised for their dynamic presentation of a wide spectrum of music, from familiar masters such as Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, to that which is almost completely unknown. 

Both Hazel and David are fascinated by the historical background of the music and enjoy the process of turning dusty old manuscripts into living performances. They have an ongoing project exploring seventeenth-century English repertoire, which has led to a number of ground-breaking recordings. The latest is A Bohemian in London: Violin Sonatas by Gottfried Finger on the Chandos label, which received international acclaim, and was awarded five stars by BBC Music Magazine. 

In addition to their ordinary concerts, Hazel and David are keen to promote baroque music beyond the formal setting of traditional concert halls.  They enjoy performing in less usual settings including museums, castles, schools, village halls, libraries and even a Roman villa!  They also give informal recitals in private houses, which have proved very popular.

For more information, please contact the duo via their website: www.duodorado.co.uk