Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) first opera, Almira, was performed in Hamburg in 1705. In 1710 he was appointed Kapellmeister to the elector of Hanover (the future George I of England).

Short Biography:

In 1712 he settled in England, where he established his popularity with works such as the Water Music in 1717 (written for George. His great choral works include the Messiah in 1742 and the later oratorios Samson in 1743, Belshazzar in 1745, Judas Maccabaeus in 1747, and Jephtha in 1752.

Born in Halle, he abandoned the study of law 1703 to become a violinist at Reiser's Opera House in Hamburg. Visits to Italy (1706-1710) inspired a number of operas and oratorios, and in 1711 his opera Rinaldo was performed in London. Saul and Israel in Egypt (both 1739) were unsuccessful, but his masterpiece the Messiah was acclaimed on its first performance in Dublin in 1742.

Other works include the pastoral Acis and Galatea 1718 and a set of variations for harpsichord that were later nicknamed "The Harmonious Blacksmith". In 1751 he became totally blind.

Why is Georg Friedrich Handel famous?

Georg Friedrich Handel was a German composer, who became a British subject in 1726.

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Tags: composer, opera, orator, violinist

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Category: Musicians  - ( Musicians Archive)

Date Added: 19 April '12

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