Handel was educated at Halle and Hamburg in Germany. He began writing operas at an early age and his first, Almira, was performed in 1705. Travelling to Italy, Handel wrote a number of operas and cantatas while there and returned to Germany in 1710 to become the director of music at the Hanoverian court. He travelled to England where he eventually settled and took a position with the Duke of Chandos in 1718. During this time, he produced 12 Chandos Anthems and Acis and Galatea, based on the John Gay work. When the public tired of opera, Handel produced his new form, the oratorio, which took London by storm. His first, Saul, was performed in 1738 and was a resounding success. He followed this with Israel in Egypt in 1739 and his masterpiece, the Messiah, in 1741. Handel was a great improvisor on the keyboard and many of his keyboard works are said not to do justice to his performances. Among his other famous works are Samson (1743), Joseph and His Brethren (1744), Belshazzar (1745), Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749). Handel also produced numerous instrumental works. |
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