
George Frideric Handel (Composer)
Born: 5th March 1685, Halle (Saale)
Died: 14th April 1759, London
Nationality: English, German
George Frideric was a German-born Baroque composer becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi and organ concertos. Handel received his training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition and by composers of the Italian Baroque.
Handel started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. In 1737 he had a physical breakdown, changed direction creatively, and addressed the middle class and made a transition to English choral works.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel
Browse: Handel
Further Reading: Handel
Recording of the Week,
Handel's Semele from John Eliot Gardiner
John Eliot Gardiner revisits Handel's tempestuous tale of gods and mortals, with show-stopping performances from Louise Alder, Hugo Hymas and Lucile Richardot.
Interview,
Richard Egarr on Handel's Brockes-Passion
The conductor talks to David about his recording of Handel's visceral Passion setting, which was taken from a live performance at the Barbican on Good Friday 2019 and released on the Academy of Ancient Music's own label last autumn.
Popular Works: Handel
- Acis and Galatea (25)
- Agrippina (10)
- Alcina (19)
- Alexander Balus (1)
- Alexander's Feast (24)
- Ariodante (14)
- Athalia (4)
- Belshazzar (7)
- Concerti grossi Op. 3 Nos. 1-6, HWV312-317 (27)
- Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330 (22)
- Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV258 'Zadok the Priest' (161)
- Coronation Anthem No. 2, HWV259 'Let Thy Hand be Stengthened' (22)
- Coronation Anthem No. 3, HWV260 'The King Shall Rejoice' (31)
- Coronation Anthem No. 4, HWV261 'My Heart is Inditing' (20)
- Coronation Anthems Nos. 1-4 (16)
- Deborah (2)
- Dixit Dominus, HWV 232 (38)
- Esther (4)
- Giulio Cesare in Egitto (26)
- Hercules (9)
- Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a (8)
- Israel in Egypt, HWV54 (23)
- Jephtha (12)
- Joseph and his Brethren (5)
- Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 (13)
- L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (12)
- La Resurrezione, HWV47 (10)
- Messiah (161)
- Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351 (128)
- Neun deutsche Arien, HWV202-210 (23)
- Organ Concertos, Op. 4 Nos. 1-6, HWV289-294 (21)
- Organ Concertos, Op. 7 Nos. 1-6, HWV306-311 (16)
- Orlando (10)
- Ottone, Re di Germania (3)
- Partenope, HWV 27 (3)
- Radamisto (3)
- Rinaldo (18)
- Rodelinda (15)
- Samson (11)
- Saul (22)
- Semele (11)
- Serse (13)
- Solomon (12)
- Susanna, HWV66 (3)
- Tamerlano (14)
- The Choice of Hercules (2)
- The Occasional Oratorio, HWV62 (5)
- The Triumph of Time and Truth (2)
- Theodora, HWV 68 (17)
- Utrecht Te Deum, HWV278 (8)
- Water Music Suites Nos. 1-3, HWV348-350 (73)