George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Composer
Born in Germany, he travelled widely, especially in Italy, before settling in England where he enjoyed considerable success. He wrote operas, oratorios (The Messiah-written in only three weeks) and orchestral music (The Fireworks Music and Water Music). A botched eye operation when he was 68 left him blind. He was buried in Westminster Abbey with great national splendour.
PRESTO RECOMMENDS...
You can view Presto's hand-picked selection of favourite Handel opera recordings here.
Browse: Handel
Further Reading: Handel
Interview,
Carolyn Sampson on Abbandonata
27th December 2018
The soprano talks to Katherine about her recording of four of Handel's Italian cantatas, including Armida abbandonata and Agrippina condotta a morire, released on Vivat in October.
Interview,
Christopher Purves on Handel
5th July 2018
The British bass-baritone talks to Katherine about the second volume of 'Finest Arias for Base Voice', out now on Hyperion.
Popular Works: Handel
- Acis and Galatea (27)
- Agrippina (11)
- Alcina (18)
- Alexander Balus (1)
- Alexander's Feast (22)
- Ariodante (12)
- Athalia (4)
- Belshazzar (7)
- Concerti grossi Op. 3 Nos. 1-6, HWV312-317 (25)
- Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330 (26)
- Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV258 'Zadok the Priest' (178)
- Coronation Anthem No. 2, HWV259 'Let Thy Hand be Stengthened' (24)
- Coronation Anthem No. 3, HWV260 'The King Shall Rejoice' (34)
- Coronation Anthem No. 4, HWV261 'My Heart is Inditing' (24)
- Coronation Anthems Nos. 1-4 (18)
- Deborah (2)
- Dixit Dominus, HWV 232 (41)
- Esther (5)
- Giulio Cesare in Egitto (26)
- Hercules (9)
- Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a (9)
- Israel in Egypt, HWV54 (26)
- Jephtha (13)
- Joseph and his Brethren (4)
- Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 (14)
- L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (12)
- La Resurrezione, HWV47 (11)
- Messiah (162)
- Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351 (122)
- Neun deutsche Arien, HWV202-210 (22)
- Organ Concertos, Op. 4 Nos. 1-6, HWV289-294 (22)
- Organ Concertos, Op. 7 Nos. 1-6, HWV306-311 (16)
- Orlando (9)
- Ottone, Re di Germania (3)
- Partenope, HWV 27 (3)
- Radamisto (2)
- Rinaldo (20)
- Rodelinda (16)
- Samson (8)
- Saul (21)
- Semele (8)
- Serse (15)
- Solomon (15)
- Susanna, HWV66 (3)
- Tamerlano (12)
- The Choice of Hercules (2)
- The Occasional Oratorio, HWV62 (5)
- The Triumph of Time and Truth (1)
- Theodora, HWV 68 (18)
- Utrecht Te Deum, HWV278 (8)
- Water Music Suites Nos. 1-3, HWV348-350 (75)
