Handel Hendrix House

 
What  George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) could possibly have in common? Both involved in music, yes, but  what else? Follow me to London and then to Milan for a great musical surprise.

George Frideric Handel
25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London is home to a museum devoted to the great baroque German born composer George Frideric Handel. Now called the Handel House Museum is where he lived from 1723 until his death in 1759. The only composer museum in London, this house is where he wrote the notes for some of the greatest music including Messiah and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

George Frideric Handel

The house has been restored to look as it did during Handel's 36 year occupancy.  A typical early 18th century London terrace house, it has a basement, three levels and an attic, and Handel was the first occupant, paying  £60 a year rent for the whole house.

The Museum celebrates Handel's life and works, displaying portraits of Handel and his contemporaries in finely restored Georgian interiors and by bringing live music back to his house with concerts and special musical events.

Jimi Hendrix
23 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, the city that he called home from 1966 to 1970.
Although we often associate him with Woodstock, much of his off-stage time was spent in apartments like this one, clubs and hotels in London.

  

Jimi Hendrix in his flat at 23 Brook Street, on January 4, 1969.

Jimi Hendrix, one of the greatest rock guitarist, lived here for two years from 1968, before he died  in a Notting Hill hotel in 1970, aged 27. Hendrix and his girlfriend paid £30 a week for their attic flat and he wrote in 1968: "This is my first real home of my own." He was charmed when he learned of Handel living there in the past and bought many records including The Messiah.
The Handel museum now extends to the upper floors of its neighbor, 23 Brook Street and both houses have Blue Plaques for their respective occupants separated by two centuries, who lived in the two once separate buildings but now connected.
And now from London we go to Milan where another composer lives and  created music called “Handel Hendrix House”  part of the album “Ten Directions”. 

Roberto Cacciapaglia

Roberto Cacciapaglia   “(…) a prominent figure on the more innovative Italian music scene and a point of reference in Italy and abroad, for his musical research between classical and experimental electronic and direction towards music without borders that goes beyond divisions (…)” 
I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time when he was still studying music composition at the Milan Conservatorio , quite a few years ago I must say...
Now listen and be transported by his music.

Top image:  Courtesy of Handel House Museum.     Hendrix image: Courtesy of Barrie Wentzell Photography.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about  new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
I love to hear from you!

"Die Walküre" in Milan

 Die Walküre, Teatro alla Scala

December 7th is the day of the Saint Patron of Milan, Sant'Ambrogio, and it is also the opening of the  season at La Scala Theatre. In all these years the ladies evening gowns have reflected the times, booming economy, austerity, times of peace, times of turmoil. I have seen decades of luxurious furs and evening gowns, years of rebellion around 1968, followed by years of austerity and understatement, today, from the images, I can see more sparkles than last year, the world wide financial crisis is starting to recede?

Letizia Moratti, mayor of Milan (gown by Armani as usual)
and the La Scala superintendent Stephane Lissner.

Laura Teso and husband

Marina Berlusconi

Marquise Marta Brivio Sforza

Actress Elena Santarelli

Countess Marta Marzotto

 

Actress Valeria Marini

Queen of Alta Moda (High Fashion) Raffaella Curiel

Michela Vittoria Brambilla, minister of Tourism

TV stars Sabrina Negri and Alessandro Cecchi Paone

Banker Corrado Passera and wife

The inaugural evening, with the five hours long Wagner opera "Die Walküre", was a triumph: 14 minutes of applause, a standing orchestra, flowers thrown from the stages, a standing ovation for the conductor Daniel Barenboim.
Applause for everyone  but... outside the theatre police had to battle protesters against cultural budget cuts, mainly University students gathered outside but soon dispersed  by the police.

Horse mounted carabinieri

15 policemen were injuried during the attack.

Milan City Hall, lit for the occasion.

Life is always full of contrasts.

Photography by Milestone Media, Photoviews, Balestra, La Presse.

If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the bottom of the post, to the comments section.

I love to hear from you!