Georg Friedrich Handel

Georg Friedrich Handel was a German-born British composer of the late Baroque era whose career spanned opera, oratorio, anthem and instrumental genres. He studied under Friedrich Zachow in Halle and developed strong skills as a keyboardist and composer early on. After working in Hamburg and studying in Italy, he settled in London in 1712 and became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He founded several opera companies in London, composed the celebrated oratorio Messiah (1741), and pioneered the English oratorio, concerti grossi and organ concertos. His famous works include Water Music (1717), Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) and the coronation anthem Zadok the Priest (1727). Handel’s music fused German contrapuntal tradition, Italian operatic style and English choral heritage, and he remained professionally active despite blindness in his later years.

During the mid‑18th century Handel was regarded as the most famous composer in Europe, far surpassing many of his contemporaries in reputation and celebrated as a living classic. His works became closely associated with British national life, and his music has been traditionally performed at coronations and major state ceremonies. Among his extensive output, he wrote 42 operas and 25 oratorios, and his influence deeply shaped later composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

Handel experienced a physical breakdown in 1737 that marked a turning point in his career, prompting him to shift his focus from Italian opera to English choral works. After the success of Messiah in 1742, he never returned to composing Italian opera. He was honoured with a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, reflecting his immense prestige and the profound impact of his music.

Interest in Handel’s works grew significantly in the mid‑20th century with the rise of historically informed performance. His operas, many of which had long been neglected apart from a few famous arias, began to re-enter the repertory of major opera houses, following early revivals in Germany during the 1920s. He is now widely recognised as one of the supreme masters of dramatic composition in music history.

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