Handel

Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel, 23 February 1685 (O.S.) [(N.S.) 5 March] – 14 April 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel received important training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.

Within fifteen years, Handel had started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. Musicologist Winton Dean writes that his operas show that "Handel was not only a great composer; he was a dramatic genius of the first order." As Alexander's Feast (1736) was well received, Handel made a transition to English choral works. After his success with Messiah (1742) he never composed an Italian opera again. Almost blind, and having lived in England for nearly fifty years, he died in 1759, a respected and rich man. His funeral was given full state honours, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

Born the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti, Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, with works such as Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah remaining steadfastly popular.[6] One of his four Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest (1727), composed for the coronation of George II, has been performed at every subsequent British coronation, traditionally during the sovereign's anointing. Handel composed more than forty operas in over thirty years, and since the late 1960s, with the revival of baroque music and historically informed musical performance, interest in Handel's operas has grown.
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Handel

Handel

George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel, 23 February 1685 (O.S.) [(N.S.) 5 March] – 14 April 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel received important training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712; he became a naturalised Briti...
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23 albums
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HANDEL Water Music Suite (arr. Harty)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Concerto for Oboe and Strings in A minor
ELGAR
Falstaff, Op. 68

Recorded 1945
Total duration: 75:50

Mitch Miller, Oboe
The Columbia Broadcasting Symphony
conducted by Bernard Herrmann

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HANDEL Overture to Berenice
SCHUBERT Symphony No. 3 in D, D200
RAVEL Ma Mère l'Oye

Recorded 1946
Total duration: 45:41

NBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Erich Kleiber

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VARIOUS COMPOSERS A selection of shorter works
Studio recordings, 1928-1930
Total duration: 72:54

Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York
Willem Mengelberg,
conductor

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WEBER Euryanthe - Overture
HANDEL Concerto Grosso In D
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 1 (mvts. 2 & 3)
GRIFFES The Pleasure Dome Of Kubla Khan
WAGNER Lohengrin - Prelude
RAVEL Daphnis Et Chloé Suite No. 2

Live broadcast recording, 1937
Total duration: 78:27

NBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Monteux

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VARIOUS COMPOSERS Short pieces
Studio recordings, 1938-39
Total duration: 73:53
Ossy Renardy violin
Walter Robert
and Leo Taubman piano


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HANDEL-HARTY Water Music Suite
SIBELIUS Pohjola's Daughter
DEBUSSY Nocturnes: Nuages, Fêtes
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

Live broadcast recording, 1937
Total duration: 79:29

NBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Artur Rodziński