George Frideric Handel
(1685 - 1759)
George Frideric Handel (February 23, 1685 - April 14, 1759) was one of the greatest composers of the late baroque period and, during his lifetime, perhaps the most internationally famous of all musicians. Handel was in Hallé, to a family of no musical distinction. His musical talent, however, manifested itself so clearly that before his tenth birthday he began to receive, from a local organist, the only formal musical instruction he would ever have. Although his first position, beginning just after his 17th birthday, was as a church organist in Hallé, Handel's musical predilections lay elsewhere. Thus, in 1703 he traveled to Hamburg, the operatic center of Germany. Here, in 1704, he composed his first opera, Almira, which achieved great success the following year. Once again, however, Handel soon felt the urge to move on, and his inclinations led him to Italy, the birthplace of operatic style. He stopped first at Florence in the autumn of 1706. In the spring and summer of 1707 and 1708 he traveled to Rome, enjoying the patronage of both the nobility and the clergy, and in the late spring of 1707, he made an additional short trip to Naples. In Italy Handel composed operas, oratorios, and many small secular cantatas. He ended his Italian sojourn with the spectacular success of his fifth opera, Agrippina (1709), in Venice.
Enjoy classical concerts of Handel music in Prague. Book tickets online >>>
Handel left Italy for a position as court composer and conductor in Hannover, Germany, where he arrived in the spring of 1710. As had been the case in Hallé, however, he did not hold this position for long. By the end of 1710 Handel had left for London, where with Rinaldo (1711), he once again scored an operatic triumph. After returning to Hannover, he was granted permission for a second short trip to London, from which, however, he never returned. Handel was forced to face his truancy when in 1714 the elector at Hannover, his former employer, became King George I of England. The reconciliation of these two men may well have occurred, as has often been said, during a royal party on the River Thames in 1715, during which the F Major suite from Handel's Water Music was probably played. Under the patronage of the duke of Chandos, he composed his oratorio Esther and the 11 Chandos Anthems for choir and string orchestra (1717-20). By 1719 Handel had won the support of the king to start the Royal Academy of Music for performances of opera, which presented some of Handel's greatest operas: Radamisto (1720), Giulio Cesare (1724), Tamerlano (1724), and Rodelinda (1725). In 1727 Handel became a naturalized British subject; in 1728 the academy collapsed. He formed a new company the following year. Forced to move to another theater by the Opera of the Nobility, a rival company, in 1734, he continued to produce opera until 1737 when both houses failed. Handel suffered a stroke and retired to Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) to recuperate.
In 1738 Handel, as determined as ever, began yet another operatic endeavor, which ended with his last opera, Deidamia, in 1741. During the 1730s, however, the most important directions taken by Handel were, first, the composition of English dramatic oratorios, notably Athalia (1733) and Saul (1739), and, second, the surge of instrumental music used in conjunction with the oratorios, including some of Handel's greatest concertos – the solo concertos of Opus 4 (1736, five for organ and one for harp) and the 12 concerti grossi of Opus 6 (1739). In 1742 Messiah, the work for which he is best known was first performed in Dublin. Handel continued composing oratorios at the rate of about two a year, including such masterworks as Samson (1743) and Solomon (1749), until 1751, when his eyesight began to fail. Handel died in London on April 14, 1759; the last musical performance he heard, on April 6, was his own Messiah.
Throughout his life Handel avoided the rigorous contrapuntal techniques of his compatriot and exact contemporary Johann Sebastian Bach and achieved his effects through the simplest of means, trusting always his own innate musicianship. The music of both composers, however, sums up the age in which they lived. After them, opera took a different path; the favorite baroque genres of a chamber and orchestral music, trio sonata, and concerto grosso, were largely abandoned, and the development of the symphony orchestra and the pianoforte led into realms uncharted by the baroque masters. Thus, their influence cannot be found in specific examples. Rather, Handel's legacy lies in the dramatic power and lyrical beauty inherent in all his music. His operas move from the rigid use of conventional schemes toward a more flexible and dramatic treatment of recitative, arioso, aria, and chorus. His ability to build large scenes around a single character was further extended in the dramatic scenes of composers such as Wolfgang Mozart and the Italian Gioachino Rossini. Handel's greatest gift to posterity was undoubtedly the creation of the dramatic oratorio genre, partly out of existing operatic traditions and partly by force of his own musical imagination. Without question, the oratorios of both the Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn and the German composer Felix Mendelssohn owe a large debt to those of Handel. He was one of the first composers to have a biography written of him (1760), to have centennial celebrations of his birth (1784-86), and to have a complete edition of his music published (40 volumes, 1787-97) – Ludwig van Beethoven cherished his set. Although today, as in the 19th century, Handel is best known for only a few of his works, such as Water Music and Messiah, more and more attempts are being made to bring his other compositions, especially his operas, to the public acquaintance. Handel's rich and unique musical genius deserves to be remembered in the extraordinary fullness of its entirety.
Upcoming classical concerts of the composer's music in Prague:
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Aug
11
Monday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
11
Monday
The Fascinating world of music between baroque, oper and operette
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
11
Monday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
11
Monday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
11
Monday
Hallelujah
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
11
Monday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 16:30
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
The Famous romantic songs, ballads and virtuoso organ toccatas
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
The Best of Mozart and Dvorak
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
The Best of Czech and World Music
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
12
Tuesday
The most beautiful musical melodies
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
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Aug
13
Wednesday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
Great Baroque and Classical Music
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
The Best of World and Czech Music
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 20:00
Broadway Theatre
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
The Best of Tchaikovsky, Dvorak & Grieg
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
13
Wednesday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague
Time: 16:30
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
14
Thursday
The Fascinating world of music between baroque, oper and operette
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
14
Thursday
Hallelujah
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
14
Thursday
The Best of Classics
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
14
Thursday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
14
Thursday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
15
Friday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
15
Friday
The Best of Classics
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
15
Friday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
15
Friday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
15
Friday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
15
Friday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
15
Friday
Cosmic Cabinet
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
15
Friday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
15
Friday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
15
Friday
Pachelbel, Mozart and Vivaldi in the Municipal House
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
16
Saturday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 17:00
Broadway Theatre
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Great Baroque and Classical Music
Time: 17:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
16
Saturday
The Best of World and Czech Music
Time: 17:00
St. Martin in the Wall Church
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Beautiful Ave Maria Songs in the Changes of Time and much more
Time: 20:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
16
Saturday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 "From the New World", 60 musicians on stage
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
16
Saturday
Afrikania
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
17
Sunday
The Best of Czech and World Music
Time: 16:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 17:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
17
Sunday
Bolero, Carmina Burana
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
17
Sunday
The Best of Classics
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
17
Sunday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
17
Sunday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
18
Monday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
18
Monday
The Best of Classics
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
18
Monday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
18
Monday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
18
Monday
Hallelujah
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
18
Monday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 20:00
Broadway Theatre
-
Aug
18
Monday
The Best of Mozart and Dvorak
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 16:30
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Famous Classic and broadway favorites
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Bolero, Carmina Burana
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
The Best of Czech and World Music
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
19
Tuesday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Music of the Great Baroque Masters
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
The Best of World and Czech Music
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 20:00
Broadway Theatre
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
Cosmic Cabinet
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
20
Wednesday
The Best of Tchaikovsky, Dvorak & Grieg
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague
Time: 16:30
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Famous Classic and broadway favorites
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Hallelujah
Time: 20:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
Aug
21
Thursday
The Best of Mozart and Dvorak
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
21
Thursday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
21
Thursday
Afrikania
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
22
Friday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
22
Friday
The Best of Classics
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
22
Friday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
22
Friday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
22
Friday
Sinatra Tribute – show and dinner
Time: 19:00
Art Restaurant Manes
-
Aug
22
Friday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
22
Friday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
Aug
22
Friday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
Aug
22
Friday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
22
Friday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
22
Friday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
Aug
23
Saturday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 17:00
Broadway Theatre
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Famous organ works and duets for soprano and trumpet
Time: 17:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
-
Aug
23
Saturday
The Best of World and Czech Music
Time: 17:00
St. Martin in the Wall Church
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Famous Organ Concerts
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
-
Aug
23
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)