Handel and Royalty
1685 born in Halle Saxony. Aged about 10 taken by father to court of Duke Johann Adolf I of Saxony
where his half-brother was court musician. Duke impressed with Handel and persuaded father to
give him lessons. Father died 1697 and 1702 Handel enrolled at Halle University to study law but
soon after appointed organist at cathedral. Met Telemann, lifelong friend. 1703 gave up law and
moved to Hamburg to take up opera. Met Matheson who trained him but also rival. Duel neither
hurt. 1706 met Prince Ferdinand de Medici who invited him to Italy.
1707 to Italy where he spent next 3 years travelling between Florence, Rome and Venice. In Rome
met Corelli and Scarlatti. Wrote first oratorios in Rome where opera was banned. Wrote Rodrigo
for Ferdinand in Florence. In 1710 in Venice where Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover and Baron
Kielmansegge heard Agrippina as did Duke of Manchester, British ambassador. To Hanover via
Innsbruck and met Electress Sophia and grandson (George II). Kielmansegge offered pension of 1500
crowns but Handel wanted to travel first.
1710 first trip to London via Halle and Dusseldorf. Opera struggling at the 2 London theatres,
Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Queen’s Theatre Haymarket. 1711 Handel’s first opera in England was
RINALDO at Queen’s Theatre dedicated to Queen Anne. One of his greatest successes with 15
performances, revived 5 times in lifetime, total 53 performances. May have also set an Italian
dialogue for the queen’s birthday.
1711 returned to Hanover via Dusseldorf and presented 12 duets (5 newly composed) to Princess
Caroline who was very musical. 1712 given leave to return to London as long as he returned in a
reasonable time.
1713 wrote TE DEUM and JUBILATE to celebrate peace of Utrecht for which Queen Anne gave him
pension of £200. Also wrote BIRTHDAY ODE for her which may or may not have been performed on
her birthday (6th Feb) that year or 1714. Te Deum and Jubilate rehearsed at Banqueting Hall
Whitehall in March before treaty signed with first public performance in St Paul’s in July.
1714 Queen Anne died in August and George I arrived in September. Handel commissioned to
perform anthem (O SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG) and Te Deum (CAROLINE) at Chapel Royal
to celebrate his arrival. Rinaldo revived at King’s Theatre in December. King with Prince and
Princess of Wales present.
1716 Returned to Hanover with the king and visited mother in Halle. 1717 both returned with king
brining his mistress Mme Schulenburg and half-sister Mme Kielmansegge (elephant and castle). Rift
with Prince of Wales attempted to be healed with show of family unity on the Thames with music
and celebration. Handel commissioned to write WATER MUSIC for the occasion. Kielmansegge paid
musicians £150 for it and king asked for it to be played 3 times. Handel had been living in the
household of Lord Burlington from 1713 to 1716 and recently moved to Lord Carnarvon (Duke of
Chandos).
1719 Royal Academy under patronage of king founded at King’s Theatre to produce opera and
appointed Handel master of orchestra with salary and 63 subscribers. Handel to Dresden to engage
singers. Lasted to 1728, 487 performances of which 245 Handel’s operas, 108 Bononcini, 55 Ariosti,
79 others. 1720 first season opened with RADAMISTO but held up until king to whom it was
dedicated could attend with the Prince of Wales. Winter 1720 season included FLORIDANTE
dedicated to Prince of Wales about an imprisoned heir who triumphs.
1722 AS PANTS THE HART commissioned by Chapel Royal. 1726 King returned from Hanover and
Handel commissioned to write anthem (LET GOD ARISE) and TE DEUM in A for Chapel Royal. Paid £3
18s 6d. In August George’s granddaughters Anne (1709-59) and Caroline (1713-57) attended
Handel’s organ recital in St Paul’s. They described him as their music master. He acknowledged only
Anne. Moved to Brook Street same year.
1727 George I signed act naturalising Handel as British citizen. Went to Hanover where he died in
June at Osnabruck. George II succeeded and Handel commissioned to write 4 coronation anthems
ZADOK THE PRIEST, THE KING SHALL REJOICE, MY HEART IS INDITING and LET THY HAND BE
STRENGTHENED. Performed at coronation in Westminster Abbey in October. In November Handel
produced RICCARDO PRIMO at King’s Theatre in king’s honour and wrote MINUETS for the birthday
ball. 1728 SIROE performed in front of whole royal family. 1730 SCIPIONE revived at King’s Theatre
in presence of king and queen.
1732 EZIO staged at King’s Theatre with king attending 4 of the 5 performances. ESTHER revived at
King’s Theatre at request of Princess Anne after successful performances at Music Club and Crown &
Anchor – first oratorio to be performed at the theatre. ACIS AND GALATEA revived at request of
Princess Anne. ALESSANDRO revived at King’s Theatre in king’s presence. 1733 ORLANDO produced
at King’s Theatre with queen at second night. DEBORAH produced at King’s Theatre with
enthusiastic support from Princess Anne who persuaded Handel to charge a guinea. One result was
the award of honorary degree at Oxford. Handel conducted the concerts in his honour which made
£2,000 but turned down the doctorate. Telemann wrote to him as Dr Handel. OTTONE revived at
King’s theatre to celebrate King’s birthday which the king, queen and Prince of Wales attended
instead of the usual court ball. By Christmas Prince of Wales had defected to Opera of the Nobility.
In 1734 king, queen and Princess Anne attended ARIANNA IN CRETA but Prince of Wales stayed
away. King subscribed £1,000 a year to Handel. Prince of Wales started to return and gave money
to both opera companies from 1736.
1734 Princess Anne married Prince William of Orange. Handel celebrated with serenata IL
PARNASSO IN FESTA at King’s Theatre and anthem THIS IS THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE for
the wedding in the French chapel at St James’s palace. 1735 ALCINA produced at Covent Garden
attended by king and queen. 18 performances at king’s command or queen’s command when king
in Hanover.
1736 Prince of Wales married Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Augusta musical and day after arrival
enjoyed trip on river with Water music. Handel produced ATALANTA at Covent Garden in their
honour and anthem SING UNTO GOD for wedding in German Chapel at St James’s palace. Revived
Alcina which both attended. 1737 Prince attended organ concerto and insisted on a repeat despite
Handel’s strained health. Whole royal family attended first performance of BERENICE at Covent
Garden. Command performance of ALEXANDER’S FEAST not enough to save opera company. Both
go bust.
1737 Handel wrote anthem THE WAYS OF ZION DO MOURN for funeral of Queen Caroline in
Westminster Abbey. Rehearsed at Banqueting Hall with all royal family in attendance incognito. All
theatres closed for 6 weeks mourning. Statue of Handel put up in Vauxhall Gardens. 1738 Wrote
KEYBOARD SUITES IN D MINOR AND G MINOR for Princess Louise (1724-51). 1739 SAUL opened
with large audience including royal family. ISRAEL IN EGYPT at first a flop but Prince and Princess of
Wales attended 3rd performance and helped. (Foundling Hospital started by royal charter and grant
of £3,000 from George II).
1740 Princess Mary married Landgrave Frederick of Hesse-Cassel by proxy at St James’s palace and
Handel adapted SING UNTO GOD for the occasion. 12 CONCERTI GROSSI published by Walsh with six
royal patrons at head of subscribers list.
1743 George II became last king of England to lead troops in battle at victory of Dettingen. Handel
commissioned to write music to celebrate this, an anthem, THE KING SHALL REJOICE and TE DEUM
IN D. Both performed at Chapel Royal in king’s presence to celebrate his safe return. 1745 during
rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie Handel wrote STAND ROUND MY BRAVE BOYS for gentlemen
volunteers of City of London. 1746 after defeat of Jacobites by Cumberland at Culloden Handel
wrote OCCAISIONAL ORATORIO and JUDAS MACCABAEUS with libretto by Thomas Morell on
recommendation from Prince of Wales. Former performed at Covent Garden 1746, latter in 1747,
being repeated 53 times including in the provinces. Also wrote FROM SCOURGING REBELLION
performed in Vauxhall gardens soon after news of victory heard.
1749 Handel wrote anthem HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET to celebrate Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle
performed in Chapel Royal with Caroline Te Deum. Also MUSIC FOR THE ROYAL FIREWORKS for
celebration in Green Park following rehearsal in Vauxhall Gardens that caused 3 hour traffic jam on
London Bridge with 12,000 people trying to attend. SOLOMON also in honour of king as seen as
ideal ruler. Second performance of Firework Music for Foundling Hospital along with new anthem
Blessed are they that considereth the poor. George II gave a further £2,000. 1,000 people attended
the concert.
1750 Earthquake hit London and many fled. THEODORA poorly attended but included Princess
Amelia. Handel was elected a governor of Foundling Hospital on recommendation of king. He
organised annual benefit concert of Messiah. 1751 death of Prince of Wales interrupted the season.
First recorded occasion of king and audience standing for HALLELUJAH chorus form Messiah. New
Prince of Wales (George III) claimed he had lessons from Handel. From 1752 suffered from
increasing blindness and had several operations including one by Princess of Wales’s surgeon. 1759
died and buried in Westminster Abbey.