Blue hair, peacock mask, double-dealing .... it's not the usual image of JS Bach, but his Coffee Cantata is a little light relief from his more familiar sacred music. And three performances in the London Handel Festival will also admit Culture Whisper readers to the ancient Charterhouse, one of the capital's best-kept secrets.

While tickets for this intimate and high-octane performance are reserved for Friends and Supporters only of the London Handel Festival (18 March - 24 April), Culture Whisper readers can join this exclusive event by booking here.

The Charterhouse, near Smithfield Market and the Museum of London, a remarkable survivor of both bombing and building developments, was built in the middle of the 14th century on land reserved for the burial of victims of the black death. In its 650-year history it has been a monastery, private house, boys' school and, finally, as it is now, almshouses, home to single men called Brothers.

It is famous for its architecture, gardens, and, now, for a new museum illustrating its colourful history.

Ticket-holders for the Coffee Cantata, which lasts about an hour, will also be given coffee, naturally, and cake (2pm and 4pm), or wine and nibbles (7pm). You will also get a private tour of the Charterhouse, a building that Handel, who lived in London for many years, would undoubtedly have known and visited.

The principal characters of the hilarious Coffee Cantata are Schlendrian, in despair at his daughter Lieschen, who is more interested in the exciting new beverage, coffee, than in a suitable match. When she agrees to give up coffee to obtain a husband, she rapidly does a deal with her suitors: if coffee is really off the menu, she's off too.

This delightful event is a one highlight in this year's annual festival of music by Handel and of music connected with his: although they took very different paths, Handel and Bach were born within weeks of each other, in 1685.

---

Booking opens on 31 January