George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) was a German-born Baroque composer who settled in London and became a naturalised British subject. He is celebrated for his operas, English oratorios, organ concertos and orchestral works.
Born in Halle, he trained in Italy before making England his home. His English oratorios, above all Messiah, reshaped sacred music for the concert hall, while Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks remain among the best-loved orchestral scores of the age. He brought Italian opera to a high point in London, created the English oratorio and the organ concerto as lasting genres, and left a body of anthems, concerti grossi and keyboard music still central to performance.
His Opus 4 organ concertos, given here in the composer’s own arrangements for organ alone on Six Organ Concertos (MCD 289), show that dramatic flair at full stretch. Early Italian cantatas from his years in Rome, Naples and Venice appear on Handel: Italian Cantatas (TP173), full of operatic fire for voice and continuo.
George Frideric Handel is featured on the following titles
Handel: Italian Cantatas
Melbourne ensemble Arcadia specialises in baroque cantata repertoire. Here they bring fire and passion to five of Handel's Italian cantatas: virtuosic music, beautifully performed.