Georg Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2011

Handel In Italy

20111219

Donald Macleod looks at the life and music of this German-born composer who arrived in Georgian London just as the craze for Italian opera was taking hold, producing a series of masterpieces which made him the talk of the town. And as its popularity subsided, Handel re-invented himself as a composer of English oratorio, many of which continue to be the staple fare of choral societies throughout the country.

Over the course of his long career he had to contend with all kinds of challenges as he negotiated his way through the opera world, with its temperamental singers, rival composers and squabbling management, producing music not only to please the paying public but also, when required, to mark the births, deaths and marriages of a dysfunctional royal family. Donald investigates the effect all these colourful individuals had on Handel's life and music, not forgetting those who collaborated with him on his oratorios in the second half of his career, one of the most important being Charles Jennens, who provided the words for the best loved of all Handel's music, Messiah.

Today he turns his attention to the time Handel spent in Italy where he cut his teeth as an opera composer and found support and inspiration from important figures such as the diplomat and composer whose miniature cantatas influenced his own, and the cardinal who provided one of the best librettos Handel ever set.

Donald Macleod presents music from the early part of Handel's career in Italy.

2011

Conflict And Resolution

20111220

As Handel begins to make his way in London and the Italian opera craze takes a hold, Handel finds himself having to deal with competition from fellow-composers, and attempting to keep afloat under the onslaught of a rival opera company. Donald Macleod looks at the opera with which Handel introduced himself to the London public, two masterpieces staged at key moments in Handel's career as the demand for opera in London started to flag, and a curious work Handel wrote with his arch-rival.

Donald Macleod focuses on three operas from key moments in Handel's career.

2011

Handel And The Age Of The Celebrity Singer

20111221

None of Handel's successes would have been possible without the world-class line-up of singers which he hand-picked himself on trips to Italy. Donald Macleod looks at three of the most important in his career - Francesco Bernardi better known as the castrato Senesino who sang in no fewer than 17 of Handel's leading roles, and two sopranos - Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni whose infamous rivalry proved to be both a blessing and a curse.

Donald Macleod focuses on three of the most important singers in Handel's career.

2011

Handel And His Royal Masters

20111222

Donald Macleod introduces music associated with the various monarchs who reigned during Handel's time in England, including an orchestral suite famously performed on the River Thames for King George I, the best loved of all his anthems, performed at the coronation of his son George II, and an oratorio written to celebrate the Hanoverian victory over the second Jacobite Rebellion.

Donald Macleod introduces music by Handel written for various British monarchs.

2011

05 LAST

Handel And Jennens

20111223

During his oratorio career, the most important collaborator Handel worked with was the librettist Charles Jennens, best known for his contribution to Messiah. As a fervent Jacobite, it's likely that Jennens took advantage of the situation and incorporated hidden political messages in the texts addressed to like-minded listeners, drawing parallels between the oratorios' biblical protagonists and the exiled Jacobite King. Donald Macleod introduces examples of each of their collaborations and looks at the part Jennens played in bringing these masterpieces to fruition.

Donald Macleod explores the collaborations between Handel and librettist Charles Jennens.

2012

1707

20120716

In this week's celebration of the life and work of George Frideric Handel, presenter Donald Macleod selects five key years in the life of the composer, taking us from his very earliest successes as a court composer in Rome in 1707, through his classic Chandos anthems of 1717, operatic politicking and prima donnas in 1725, the freezing winter of 1739, and finally - Handel's great musical jamboree for George II, the Music For The Royal Fireworks of 1749.

Rarities include excerpts from his pasticcio Jupiter in Argos (given its world premiere recording only in 2006); Handel's late incidental music to Tobias Smollett's play Alceste, and that most unusual of things: a rare and beautiful set of arias setting poetry in Handel's native German language, sung ravishingly by Dame Emma Kirkby.

Complementing this week's Proms performance of the complete Water Music and Music For The Royal Fireworks by Herv退 Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel on Wednesday 18th July, Donald Macleod also introduces two selections of Sir Hamilton Harty and Leopld Stokowski's arrangements of these works for full symphony orchestra. Once hugely popular, the muscular sound of a full orchestra playing Handel has more recently fallen completely out of favour - this week gives listeners a chance to compare two very different takes on a pair of his most popular works.

---

In Monday's episode, Donald Macleod explores the year 1707 in the life of Handel, as the largely unknown young composer arrives in Rome.

Donald Macleod explores the year 1707 in the life of Handel.

2012

1717

20120717

Donald Macleod explores the year 1717 in Handel's life, a year spend happily composing music at the court of James Brydges, the future Duke of Chandos. We also hear two very different the story of Handel's Water Music, in advance of the work's complete performance at tomorrow's late-night Prom by Le Concert Spirituel conducted by Herv退 Niquet.

Donald Macleod explores the year 1717 in Handel's life.

2012

1725

20120718

Donald Macleod presents Handel's life in the year 1725, a year of drama at the opera as Handel's two prima donnas vie for centre stage. He also presents a rare performance of a selection of Handel's German Arias - ironically, one of the few major examples of the composer setting his native language - as well as excerpts from the composer's great opera, Rodelinda.

Donald Macleod introduces Handel's life in the year 1725.

2012

1739

20120719

Donald Macleod introduces the year 1739 in Handel's life, a year when London froze and played havoc with the music season. Featuring a performance of his most popular organ concerto, The Cuckoo And The Nightingale; Handel's setting of Dryden's A Song For Saint Cecilia's Day; and a real rarity - the composer's pasticcio opera Jupiter In Argos, recorded for the first time only in 2006.

Donald Macleod explores Handel's life in 1739. Featuring The Cuckoo and the Nightingale.

2012

05 LAST

1749

20120720

By 1749, Handel had assumed the position of supreme impresario on the London stage. In this last exploration of a year in the life of the composer, presenter Donald Macleod explores the story behind Handel's Music For The Royal Fireworks - with an extract played in Leopold Stokowski's full orchestral arrangement - and introduces a rarity: Handel's incidental music to Tobias Smollett's play Alceste.

Donald Macleod explores Handel's life in 1749, year of his Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2011	01	Handel In Italy	20111219	Donald Macleod looks at the life and music of this German-born composer who arrived in Georgian London just as the craze for Italian opera was taking hold, producing a series of masterpieces which made him the talk of the town. And as its popularity subsided, Handel re-invented himself as a composer of English oratorio, many of which continue to be the staple fare of choral societies throughout the country. Over the course of his long career he had to contend with all kinds of challenges as he negotiated his way through the opera world, with its temperamental singers, rival composers and squabbling management, producing music not only to please the paying public but also, when required, to mark the births, deaths and marriages of a dysfunctional royal family. Donald investigates the effect all these colourful individuals had on Handel's life and music, not forgetting those who collaborated with him on his oratorios in the second half of his career, one of the most important being Charles Jennens, who provided the words for the best loved of all Handel's music, Messiah. Today he turns his attention to the time Handel spent in Italy where he cut his teeth as an opera composer and found support and inspiration from important figures such as the diplomat and composer whose miniature cantatas influenced his own, and the cardinal who provided one of the best librettos Handel ever set. Donald Macleod presents music from the early part of Handel's career in Italy.
2011	02	Conflict And Resolution	20111220	As Handel begins to make his way in London and the Italian opera craze takes a hold, Handel finds himself having to deal with competition from fellow-composers, and attempting to keep afloat under the onslaught of a rival opera company. Donald Macleod looks at the opera with which Handel introduced himself to the London public, two masterpieces staged at key moments in Handel's career as the demand for opera in London started to flag, and a curious work Handel wrote with his arch-rival. Donald Macleod focuses on three operas from key moments in Handel's career.
2011	03	Handel And The Age Of The Celebrity Singer	20111221	None of Handel's successes would have been possible without the world-class line-up of singers which he hand-picked himself on trips to Italy. Donald Macleod looks at three of the most important in his career - Francesco Bernardi better known as the castrato Senesino who sang in no fewer than 17 of Handel's leading roles, and two sopranos - Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni whose infamous rivalry proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Donald Macleod focuses on three of the most important singers in Handel's career.
2011	04	Handel And His Royal Masters	20111222	Donald Macleod introduces music associated with the various monarchs who reigned during Handel's time in England, including an orchestral suite famously performed on the River Thames for King George I, the best loved of all his anthems, performed at the coronation of his son George II, and an oratorio written to celebrate the Hanoverian victory over the second Jacobite Rebellion. Donald Macleod introduces music by Handel written for various British monarchs.
2011	05 LAST	Handel And Jennens	20111223	During his oratorio career, the most important collaborator Handel worked with was the librettist Charles Jennens, best known for his contribution to Messiah. As a fervent Jacobite, it's likely that Jennens took advantage of the situation and incorporated hidden political messages in the texts addressed to like-minded listeners, drawing parallels between the oratorios' biblical protagonists and the exiled Jacobite King. Donald Macleod introduces examples of each of their collaborations and looks at the part Jennens played in bringing these masterpieces to fruition. Donald Macleod explores the collaborations between Handel and librettist Charles Jennens.
2012	01	1707	20120716	In this week's celebration of the life and work of George Frideric Handel, presenter Donald Macleod selects five key years in the life of the composer, taking us from his very earliest successes as a court composer in Rome in 1707, through his classic Chandos anthems of 1717, operatic politicking and prima donnas in 1725, the freezing winter of 1739, and finally - Handel's great musical jamboree for George II, the Music For The Royal Fireworks of 1749. Rarities include excerpts from his pasticcio Jupiter in Argos (given its world premiere recording only in 2006); Handel's late incidental music to Tobias Smollett's play Alceste, and that most unusual of things: a rare and beautiful set of arias setting poetry in Handel's native German language, sung ravishingly by Dame Emma Kirkby. Complementing this week's Proms performance of the complete Water Music and Music For The Royal Fireworks by Herv退 Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel on Wednesday 18th July, Donald Macleod also introduces two selections of Sir Hamilton Harty and Leopld Stokowski's arrangements of these works for full symphony orchestra. Once hugely popular, the muscular sound of a full orchestra playing Handel has more recently fallen completely out of favour - this week gives listeners a chance to compare two very different takes on a pair of his most popular works. --- In Monday's episode, Donald Macleod explores the year 1707 in the life of Handel, as the largely unknown young composer arrives in Rome. Donald Macleod explores the year 1707 in the life of Handel.
2012	02	1717	20120717	Donald Macleod explores the year 1717 in Handel's life, a year spend happily composing music at the court of James Brydges, the future Duke of Chandos. We also hear two very different the story of Handel's Water Music, in advance of the work's complete performance at tomorrow's late-night Prom by Le Concert Spirituel conducted by Herv退 Niquet. Donald Macleod explores the year 1717 in Handel's life.
2012	03	1725	20120718	Donald Macleod presents Handel's life in the year 1725, a year of drama at the opera as Handel's two prima donnas vie for centre stage. He also presents a rare performance of a selection of Handel's German Arias - ironically, one of the few major examples of the composer setting his native language - as well as excerpts from the composer's great opera, Rodelinda. Donald Macleod introduces Handel's life in the year 1725.
2012	04	1739	20120719	Donald Macleod introduces the year 1739 in Handel's life, a year when London froze and played havoc with the music season. Featuring a performance of his most popular organ concerto, The Cuckoo And The Nightingale; Handel's setting of Dryden's A Song For Saint Cecilia's Day; and a real rarity - the composer's pasticcio opera Jupiter In Argos, recorded for the first time only in 2006. Donald Macleod explores Handel's life in 1739. Featuring The Cuckoo and the Nightingale.
2012	05 LAST	1749	20120720	By 1749, Handel had assumed the position of supreme impresario on the London stage. In this last exploration of a year in the life of the composer, presenter Donald Macleod explores the story behind Handel's Music For The Royal Fireworks - with an extract played in Leopold Stokowski's full orchestral arrangement - and introduces a rarity: Handel's incidental music to Tobias Smollett's play Alceste. Donald Macleod explores Handel's life in 1749, year of his Music for the Royal Fireworks.