Handel

{Illustration: G. F. HANDEL from a woodcut by Eric King (not available)}
CONTENTS

Chapter I Birth and parentage—studies under Zachow at Halle—Hamburg—friendship and duel with Mattheson— Almira —departure for Italy. Chapter II Arrival in Italy— Rodrigo —Rome: Cardinal Ottoboni and the Scarlattis—Naples: Venice: Agrippina —appointment at Hanover—London: Rinaldo . Chapter III Second visit to London—Italian opera—George I and the Water Music —visit to Germany—Canons and the Duke of Chandos—establishment of the Royal Academy of Music. Chapter IV Buononcini—Cuzzoni, Faustina, and Senesino—death of George I— The Beggar's Opera —collapse of the Academy. Chapter V Handel naturalized—partnership with Heidegger— Esther —the Opera of the Nobility—visit to Oxford—opera season at Covent Garden—Charles Jennens—collapse of both opera-houses. Chapter VI Bankruptcy and paralysis—visit to Aix-la-Chapelle—the last operas—Vauxhall Gardens—Handel's borrowings —visit to Ireland— Messiah and other oratorios. Chapter VII Judas Maccabaeus —Gluck—Thomas Morell—incipient blindness—Telemann and his garden—last oratorios—death—character and personality. Bibliography and List of Works

1685.... Birth at Halle. 1702.... Entered University; organist of the Cathedral. 1703.... Went to Hamburg. 1705.... First opera: Almira (Hamburg). 1707.... Arrival in Italy. 1710.... Appointment at Hanover; first visit to London. 1711.... First London opera: Rinaldo . 1712.... Second visit to London. 1717.... Appointment to the Duke of Chandos. 1720.... Opening of Royal Academy of Music (Opera). 1726.... Naturalized as a British subject. 1728.... The Beggar's Opera . Collapse of the Academy. 1732.... First public oratorio: Esther . 1733.... Festival at Oxford. 1737.... Collapse of Opera; Handel bankrupt and paralysed. 1741.... Last opera: Deidamia . 1742.... Messiah at Dublin. 1751.... First signs of blindness. Last oratorio Jeptha . 1759.... Death in London.

Birth and parentage—studies under Zachow at Halle—Hamburg—friendship and duel with Mattheson—Almira—departure for Italy.