German and English composer of the Baroque era, famous for his operas, oratorios and concertos

short biography

George Frideric Handel(German Georg Friedrich Händel, English George Frideric Handel; March 5, 1685, Halle - April 14, 1759, London) - German and English composer of the Baroque era, known for his operas, oratorios and concerts.

Handel was born in Germany the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.

Having received musical education and experience in Italy, he then moved to London, subsequently becoming an English subject.

Among his most famous works includes "Messiah", "Water Music" and "Music for the Royal Fireworks".

early years

Origin

Apparently, Handel's family moved to the Saxon city in early XVII century. The composer's grandfather Valentin Handel was a coppersmith from Breslau; in Halle he married the daughter of coppersmith Samuel Beichling. His son, Georg, was a court barber-surgeon who served in the courts of Brandenburg and Saxony, and an honorary citizen of Halle. When Georg Friedrich, Georg's first child from his second marriage, was born, he was 63 years old.

Georg Friedrich's mother Dorothea grew up in a priest's family. When her brother, sister and father died of the plague, she remained by their side until the end and refused to leave them. Georg and Dorothea were married in 1683 in the Electorate of Brandenburg. Handel's parents were very religious and were typical representatives of bourgeois society of the late 17th century.

Childhood and studies (1685-1702)

Handel was born on February 23 (March 5), 1685 in Halle. His father planned a career as a lawyer for Georg Friedrich and in every possible way resisted his attraction to music, since he adhered to the opinion, which had become firmly established in Germany, that a musician is not a serious profession, but only an entertaining one. However, his father’s protests did not have the desired effect on Georg Friedrich: at the age of four, he independently learned to play the harpsichord. This instrument was in the attic, where Georg Friedrich came at night when family members were sleeping.

In 1692, Georg Friedrich and his father went to Weissenfels to his cousin Georg Christian. Here, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels Johann Adolf I appreciated the talent of seven-year-old Handel playing the organ and advised his father not to interfere musical development child.

His father followed this advice: in 1694, Handel began studying with the composer and organist F.W. Zachau in Halle, under whose guidance he studied composition, general bass, playing the organ, harpsichord, violin and oboe. It was during the period of study with Zachau that Handel developed as a composer and performer. Zachau taught Handel to put musical ideas into perfect form, taught different styles, showed different recording methods characteristic of different nationalities. Handel was also influenced by Zachau's style; the teacher's influence is noticeable in some of the composer's works (for example, in "Halleluah" from "Messiah").

After completing his studies with Zachau, Handel visited Berlin in 1696, where he first began performing as a harpsichordist and accompanist at concerts at the court of the Elector. The eleven-year-old harpsichordist enjoyed success in high circles and the Elector of Brandenburg wanted Georg Friedrich to serve with him and invited the boy’s father to send Georg Friedrich to Italy to complete his studies, but Georg Handel refused, wanting to see his son next to him. Handel returned to Halle, but did not have time to find his father: he died on February 11, 1697.

In the years 1698-1700, Georg Friedrich studied at the gymnasium in Halle. In 1701 he replaced the organist at the Reformed Cathedral. During this period he met the composer Georg Philipp Telemann. The two young composers had much in common, and the friendship between them strengthened.

In 1702, Handel entered the Faculty of Law at the University of Halle. Here he studied theology and law. The Faculty of Theology was a center of pietism, but Handel, being very religious, still did not share the views of the pietists. The composer studied law under the guidance of Professor Christian Thomasius, but the subject did not arouse his interest. In parallel with his studies, Handel taught theory and singing at a Protestant gymnasium, and was a music director and organist in the cathedral.

Hamburg (1703-1706)

In 1703, young Handel moved to Hamburg, where the only German opera house at that time was located. Having settled here, the composer met Johann Matteson and Reinhard Kaiser. The latter led the orchestra of the opera house, in which Handel entered work as a violinist and harpsichordist. The Kaiser served as an example for Handel in many ways: the orchestra leader opposed the use German language in operas and in his writings he mixed German words with Italian ones; Handel, writing his first operas, did exactly the same thing.

Handel for some period was in a very close relationship with Matteson. Together with him, the composer visited Lubeck in the summer of 1703 to listen to the famous composer and organist Dietrich Buxtehude, who proposed that two musicians replace him as organist, for which it was necessary to marry his daughter. Handel and Matteson refused this offer. Two years later they met Johann Sebastian Bach, who was also on his way to Lübeck to hear Buxtehude.

In 1705 he wrote his first operas, Almira and Nero. They were staged at the Hamburg Theater with the assistance of Reinhard Kaiser. Almira premiered on January 8, and Nero was staged on February 25. In both productions, Johann Matteson played minor roles. However, the theater was in a dire financial situation; there were no prerequisites for the development of German national opera. Handel's work showed a commitment to the Italian Baroque, and he left for Italy in 1706 at the invitation of the Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone Medici, who visited Hamburg in 1703-1704.

In 1708, at the Hamburg Theater under the direction of the Kaiser, two operas by Handel, written by him in 1706, which were a duology, “Florindo” and “Daphne,” were staged.

Italy (1706-1709)

Handel came to Italy in 1706, at the height of the War of the Spanish Succession. He visited Venice and then moved to Florence. Here the musician visited the Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone Medici, and his brother Ferdinando Medici (Grand Prince of Tuscany), who was interested in music and played the clavier. Ferdinando sponsored many opera productions in Florence, and the first piano was made under his patronage. Nevertheless, Handel was received rather coldly here, partly due to the fact that his German style was alien to the Italians. In Florence, Handel wrote several cantatas (HWV 77, 81, etc.).

In 1707, Handel visited Rome and Venice, where he met Domenico Scarlatti, with whom he competed in playing the clavier and organ. In Rome, where Handel lived from April to October, opera was under papal ban, and the composer limited himself to composing cantatas and two oratorios, including the oratorio “The Triumph of Time and Truth,” the libretto of which was written by Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili. Handel quickly mastered the style of Italian opera and, returning from Rome to Florence, began the first production of the opera Rodrigo (the premiere took place in November), which was a success with the Italian public.

In 1708, Handel wrote his oratorio The Resurrection. That same year he visited Rome again, where he met Alessandro Scarlatti, Arcangelo Corelli, Benedetto Marcello and Bernardo Pasquini. He was popular in high circles and won fame as a first-class composer. The composer often came to concerts and meetings at the Arcadian Academy, where Scarlatti, Corelli and many others performed. This year he wrote the pastoral serenade “Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus.” In June, Handel left for Naples, where he was also very warmly received.

The composer's second Italian opera, Agrippina, was staged in 1709 in Venice. "Agrippina" was a resounding success and is considered Handel's best "Italian" opera.

Hanover and London (1710-1712)

In 1710, Handel came to Hanover on the advice of a certain Baron Kilmansek, whom the musician met in Italy. Here he was met by the composer Agostino Steffani, who loved Handel's work. Steffani helped him become bandmaster at the court of the Hanoverian Elector George I, who, according to the law of 1701, was to become king of Great Britain. While working as conductor in Hanover, Handel visited his elderly, blind mother in Halle. Handel asked for permission to go to London and having received it, in the fall of 1710 he went to the capital of Great Britain via Dusseldorf and Holland.

English music was in decline; the genre of opera, which was popular only in noble circles, had not yet been developed here, and not a single composer remained in London. Arriving here in winter, Handel was introduced to Queen Anne and immediately received her favor.

Having gained popularity in London, Handel began composing a new opera. The libretto for his future work was written by an Italian writer living in England, Giacomo Rossi, from a script by Aaron Hill, director of Her Majesty's Theater in Haymarket. The composer's first Italian opera for the English stage, Rinaldo, was staged on February 24, 1711 at Her Majesty's Theatre, was a huge success and brought Handel the fame of a first-class composer, only receiving negative reviews from opponents of Italian opera Richard Steele and Joseph Addison. In June 1711, Handel returned to Hanover, but planned to return to London again.

In Hanover, the composer wrote about twenty chamber duets, an oboe concerto, and a sonata for flute and bass. He struck up a friendship with Princess Caroline (the future Queen of Great Britain). However, there was no opera house in Hanover, and this prevented Handel from staging Rinaldo here. Late autumn 1712 Handel travels to London for the second time, having received permission with the condition of returning after spending an indefinite period of time in London.

Great Britain (1712-1759)

Arriving in London, Handel immediately began staging his new opera, The Faithful Shepherd. It was staged on November 22, 1712, at Haymarket. The libretto was written by Giacomo Rossi (author of the libretto of Rinaldo) based on the tragicomedy by Battista Guarini. The opera was staged only six times and, like the next opera Theseus (premiered on January 10, 1713), it did not have the success that Rinaldo enjoyed.

Handel sought to strengthen his position in England and, to show his loyalty to the English court, in January 1713 he wrote the Utrecht Te Deum, dedicated to the Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. The Te Deum was to be performed on a national occasion, but English law prohibited a foreigner from composing music for official ceremonies. Then Handel prepared a congratulatory ode in honor of Queen Anne's birthday, which was performed on February 6 at St. James's Palace and really pleased Her Majesty. Anna granted him a lifetime pension of £200. On July 7, the Utrecht Te Deum was performed at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Handel spent a year in Surrey, in the home of a wealthy philanthropist and music lover, Barn Elms. Then for two years he lived with the Earl of Burlington (near London), for whom he wrote the opera “Amadis” (premiere - May 25, 1715). The queen was on bad terms with the Hanoverian branch of the family, including Handel's patron, and Handel at that time already had the title of composer at the English court and did not think about returning to Hanover, despite his promise.

On August 1, 1714, Queen Anne died. Her place on the throne was taken by George I of Hanover, arriving in London. Handel found himself in a difficult position, since now his patron, to whom he had promised to return, was here. The composer needed to earn the king's favor again. But Georg was a kind-hearted man and loved music very much, so when he heard new opera Handel's "Amadis", again accepted him into his court.

In July 1716, Handel visited Hanover in the retinue of King George. At this point, the Passion genre was popular in Germany. Handel decided to write a work in this genre based on the libretto by Barthold Heinrich “Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus”, on the basis of which ten different composers wrote passions, including Matteson, Telemann and Kaiser. The new passion for "Brox's Passion" was a demonstration that this genre was alien to the composer.

From the summer of 1717 to the spring of 1719, Handel, at the invitation of the Duke of Chendos, lived at his castle Cannons, nine miles from London, where he composed anthemas (HWV 146-156), the oratorio Esther and the cantata Acis and Galatea. For the oratorio Esther (the first performance took place in Cannons on August 20, 1720), the Duke of Chendos paid Handel a thousand pounds. In 1718, the composer led the Duke's home orchestra.

From 1720 to 1728, Handel served as director of the Royal Academy of Music. Having received the position, Handel went to Germany to recruit singers for his troupe, visiting Hanover, Halle, Dresden and Dusseldorf. From this moment the composer begins active work in the field of opera. On April 27, 1720, the premiere of the composer’s new opera, “Radamist,” dedicated to the king, took place in Haymarket, which was a success. However, at the end of the year, the Italian composer Giovanni Bononcini came to London and staged his opera Astarte, which eclipsed Handel's Radamista. Since Handel wrote operas in Italian style, competition began between him and Bononcini. The Italian composer was supported by many aristocrats who were hostile to Handel and in opposition to the king. Handel's subsequent operas were unsuccessful, with the exception of Julius Caesar. Handel used the Italian singers Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni, who were at odds with each other, in the opera “Alessandro” (premiere on May 5, 1721).

On February 13, 1726, the composer became a British citizen. In June 1727, King George I died and his place on the throne was taken by George II, Prince of Wales. On the occasion of the coronation of George II, Handel wrote the antecedent Zadok the Priest.

In 1728, the premiere of “The Beggar's Opera” by John Gay and Johann Pepusch took place, containing a satire on the aristocratic Italian opera seria, including the work of Handel. The production of this opera turned out to be a heavy blow for the Academy, and the organization found itself in a difficult situation. Handel found support in the person of John James Heidegger and went to Italy in search of new performers, since the old ones left England after the collapse of the enterprise. While in Italy, Handel attended the Leonardo Vinci Opera School to update his style of composing Italian operas; here they advocated a more dramatic nature of performance and were against the concert style in opera. These changes in the composer's style can be seen in his subsequent operas "Lothaire" (December 2, 1729), "Partenope" (February 24, 1730), etc. The most successful opera of this period is considered to be "Orlando" (January 27, 1733), written on a libretto by Nicola Khaim, which he composed in the last month of his life. While traveling in Italy, Handel learned about his mother's deteriorating health and urgently returned to Halle, where he stayed with his mother for two weeks.

Handel also composed two oratorios (Deborah and Athaliah), which were not successful, after which he again turned to Italian operas. At this point, the Prince of Wales, in conflict with his father George II, founded the "Opera of the Nobility" and turned against Handel Italian composer Nikola Porpora, with whom they had a rivalry. Johann Hasse also joined Porpora, but they could not withstand the competition. Handel's affairs were going well, he managed to gather new Italian singers into the troupe. He agreed with John Rich on productions at Covent Garden, where at the beginning of the season he staged a new French opera-ballet Terpsichore (9 November 1734), written especially for the French ballerina Salle, as well as two new operas Ariodante (8 January 1735 ) and "Alcina" (April 16); here he also staged his old works. In the 1720s and 1730s, Handel wrote many operas, and starting in the 1740s, oratorios took the main place in his work (the most famous of them, Messiah, was staged in Dublin).

At the end of the 1740s. Handel's eyesight deteriorated. On May 3, 1752, he was operated on unsuccessfully by a quack doctor (who had previously operated on Bach, who also suffered from cataracts). Handel's disease continued to progress. In 1753, complete blindness occurred. A few days before his death, on April 6, 1759, Handel conducted the oratorio Messiah. During the execution, his strength left him, and some time later, on Easter Eve, April 14, 1759, he died. Buried in Westminster Abbey (Poets' Corner).

Once, in a conversation with one of his admirers, Handel said:

“I would be annoyed, my lord, if I only gave people pleasure. My goal is to make them better..."

According to P. I. Tchaikovsky:

“Handel was an inimitable master of the ability to manage voices. Without at all forcing the choral vocal means, never leaving the natural limits of the vocal registers, he extracted from the choir such excellent effects that other composers had never achieved...”

Tchaikovsky P.I. Musical and critical articles. - M., 1953. - P. 85.

A crater on Mercury is named after Handel.

Creation

During his life, Handel wrote about 40 operas (“Julius Caesar”, “Rinaldo”, etc.), 32 oratorios, many church chorales, organ concerts, chamber vocal and instrumental music, as well as a number of works of a “popular” nature (“Music on the Water”, “Music for the Royal Fireworks”, Concerti a due cori).

Heritage

Organizations and publications

In 1856, the Handel Society (English: Händel-Gesellschaft) was created in Leipzig on the initiative of Friedrich Griesander and Georg Gottfried Gervinus. From 1858 to 1903 the society published the works of Handel (Breitkopf and Hertel). At the beginning, Grisander independently published the composer's works from his home, and when there was not enough money, he sold vegetables and fruits grown in his garden. Over the course of 45 years, the Handel Society published more than a hundred volumes of the composer's works. This edition is incomplete.

From 1882 to 1939 there was another Handel Society in London, whose purpose was to perform little-known works by Handel, mainly choral ones.

Hallische Händel-Ausgabe Society (Hallische Händel-Ausgabe) H.H.A., in existence since 1955, has published more than full meeting works, with the main emphasis on a critical assessment of creativity: the preface of all volumes states that the publication is intended to satisfy scientific and practical needs.

The most famous catalog of Handel's works (Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis, abbreviated HWV) was published by German musicologist Bernd Baselt in 1978-1986 in three volumes. Based on documents, Baselt describes all of Handel's original works, as well as works whose authorship is questionable.

Handel in art

Character in films

• 1942 - The Great Mr. Handel (English) The Great Mr. Handel; dir. Norman Walker, Norman Walker; G.H.W. Productions Ltd., Independent Producers)- Spanish Wilfrid Lawson

  › George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) - the greatest German composer era of the Enlightenment, he was born on February 23, 1685 in Halle, near Leipzig. The musician spent the second half of his life in London; he was buried in Westminster Abbey. Because of this, it is often called national English composer.

Handel wrote several dozen operas and oratorios. There was a certain sense of drama and psychological romanticism in his works. It seemed that the musician never rested, he kept free time dedicated to art. He is often compared to Bach, but their works are fundamentally different in their mood. Handel saw strength in people and believed that they were capable of changing any circumstances. Johann often succumbed to the influence of Christian dogma; he portrayed passive and submissive individuals.

Musical gift

The father of the future composer was a doctor and barber. He worked at the royal court and died when his son was 18 years old. It was the father who sent his son to study with the talented organist Friedrich Zachov. Nothing is known about the musician’s mother.

Even as a child, Georg showed extraordinary ability to perform musical works. At the age of seven, he already played the organ brilliantly. The boy conquered the Duke of Saxony with his talent and dreamed of continuing to study music, but his father insisted on receiving a legal education. As a result, after school, Handel became a law student, but at the same time he worked part-time in the church, playing the organ. He gave several harpsichord concerts in different halls in Berlin.

In 1702 the musician received a position in Halle. He was constantly invited to perform, and the young man also gave piano and singing lessons. Gradually, there was simply no time left to study law. Georg dropped out of university and went to Hamburg, the local opera capital. There he became the second violinist of the orchestra.

First works

Georg began composing music at the age of ten. Then he wrote short pieces for organ and church cantatas. His compositions were meaningful and complex, it was difficult to recognize the boy in them school age. After moving to Hamburg, he continued his studies, played the violin and conducted. At that time he wrote four operas, of which only Almira has survived. Thanks to her, the young man received an invitation from Italy. By that time, the Kaiser Theater had gone bankrupt and the composer had lost his job.

Shortly before the move, Handel presented his works “Nero” and “The Passion of St. John” to the public. They were not successful, and because of the latter, the musician almost lost his life. He challenged music critic Matheson to a duel, who smashed “Passion...” to smithereens. He agreed and even struck the musician with a sword. A coat button saved him from death.

Within a few years, George managed to visit Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples. He wrote about 40 operas and mastered Italian style to perfection. In 1707, the first performance of the opera Rodrigo took place in Florence, and in 1709 Handel conquered Venice with his Agrippina. Thanks to his works, he became an honorary member of the Arcadian Academy and began receiving orders from wealthy Italians.

“Agrippina” was called the most melodic and beautiful opera, the composer’s music was talked about in different countries. He was even invited to become the court conductor in Hanover, but the musician did not stay long there either. He continued to write operas, secular cantatas and religious works. Also the German became famous performer on the organ and clavier.

Life in London

In 1710, Handel decided to change his life. He went to the English capital, where he began studying choral art. At that time there were very few composers in London, music was undergoing a crisis. In just 14 days, Georg was able to compose the opera Rinaldo, commissioned by a local theater. Its most famous part was the aria “Leave Me Cry.” The German also created 12 psalms based on biblical texts, and wrote three orchestral suites called “Music on the Water.” They were performed during the royal parade on the Thames.

Thanks to his abilities, the musician received the position of official composer at the royal court. At the same time he wrote several chamber duets and works for oboe. His financial situation gradually improved, the composer was even able to buy his own house. The Queen was favorable to the German; she granted him a lifelong pension after hearing Ode on his birthday. From 1716, George settled permanently in London.

The following year, Handel worked briefly for the Duke of Chandos. He continued to compose, paying much attention to the formation of the author's style. The composer intended to instill in the British an understanding of Italian operatic traditions, but not everyone liked this idea. Intrigues were woven against the musician, he was criticized and envied.

It was during this period of struggle that Georg was able to compose his best works- operas “Julius Caesar”, “Ottone”, “Tamerlane” and “Radamist”. The listeners appreciated them, but more and more talented musicians appeared in the country. The British had a negative attitude towards foreigners, so the royal family supported Handel less and less.

Back in 1720, the composer became the head of the Royal Academy of Music opera house. In 1729 the establishment went bankrupt and had to be closed. The German tried to restore the academy by recruiting a new troupe in Italy. Then the works “Alcina”, “Roland” and “Ariodante” appeared. The musician put his whole soul into them, added ballet and expanded the choir. But in 1737 the theater finally ceased to exist. Handel took the loss hard, he even had a stroke.

Recovery after illness

After nervous shock in London, the musician was paralyzed for several months. He was recovering from a stroke and struggling with severe depression. He managed to return to creativity only after treatment at a resort in Aachen. From 1740 Handel began to write again, but this time he turned his attention to the oratorio genre. The most famous works of that period were “Imeneo”, “Saul” and “Israel in Egypt”.

After his return, George received an invitation from an Irish lord. He went to Dublin, where he wrote the oratorio Messiah. Later, the works “Judas Maccabeus” and “Oratorio on Chance” were presented to the public. Thanks to these patriotic oratorios, the German was able to return to England, where he received the title of national composer. The royal family welcomed him back, and Handel even wrote the music for the grand fireworks display.

IN last years During his life, the German often collaborated with other musicians, for example, with Erba and Stradelli. He helped develop and enrich their works and processed them. Due to health problems and gradually deteriorating vision, the composer wrote new works less and less. In 1750 he began to create the oratorio “Jeuthai”. By the time the work was completed, he was already completely blind.

Handel died on April 14, 1759. He never married and had no children. But the composer left behind amazing works. He is remembered and honored in different countries, the musician’s works gave him immortality and eternal glory.

GeorgeHandel is one of the biggest names in history musical art. Great composer The Enlightenment opened new perspectives in the development of the genre of opera and oratorio and anticipated the musical ideas of the following centuries: the operatic drama of Gluck, the civic pathos of Beethoven, the psychological depth of romanticism. He is a man of inner strength and conviction.Show said: "You can despise anyone and anything,but you are powerless to contradict Handel.” “...When his music sounds on the words “seated on his eternal throne,” the atheist is speechless.”

George Frideric Handel was born in Halle on February 23, 1685. He received his primary education in the so-called classical school. In addition to this thorough education, young Handel learned some musical concepts from his mentor Pretorius, a music connoisseur and composer of several school operas. In addition to his school studies, he was also helped to “have a good sense of music” by the court conductor David Poole, who came into the house, and the organist Christian Ritter, who taught Georg Friedrich how to play the clavichord.

Parents paid little attention to their son's early inclination towards music, classifying it as children's entertainment. Only thanks chance meeting Between the young talent and a fan of musical art, Duke Johann Adolf, the boy’s fate changed dramatically. The Duke, having heard the wonderful improvisation played by the child, immediately convinced his father to give him a musical education. Georg became a student of the famous organist and composer Friedrich Zachau in Halle. In three years he learned not only to compose, but also to play the violin, oboe, and harpsichord fluently.

In February 1697, his father died. Fulfilling the wishes of the deceased, Georg graduated from high school and five years after his father’s death he entered the law faculty of the University of Halle.

A month after entering the university, he signed a one-year contract, according to which “the student Handel, due to his art,” was appointed organist at the city’s Reformed cathedral. He trained there for exactly a year, constantly “improving his agility in organ playing.” In addition, he taught singing at the gymnasium, had private students, wrote motets, cantatas, chorales, psalms and organ music, updating the repertoire of city churches every week. Handel later recalled: “I wrote like the devil at that time.”

In May 1702, the War of the Spanish Succession began, sweeping across Europe. In the spring of 1703, after the expiration of the contract, Handel left Halle and headed to Hamburg.Center musical life The city had an opera house. The opera was led by composer, musician and vocalist Reinhard Keyser. Handelstudied the style of opera compositionsfamous Hamburgerand the art of orchestra management.He got a job at the opera house as a second violinist (he soon became the first). From that moment on, Handel chose the field of a secular musician, and opera, which brought him both fame and suffering, became the basis of his work for many years.

The main event of Handel's life in Hamburg can be considered the first performance of his opera Almira, on January 8, 1705. The operaHandelplayed successfully about 20 times.In the same year, the second opera was staged - “Love acquired by blood and villainy, or Nero.”

In Hamburg, Handel wrote his first work in the oratorio genre. This is the so-called “Passion” based on the text of the famous German poet Postel.It soon became clear to Handel that he had grown up, and Hamburg had become too small for him. Having saved money through lessons and writing, Handel left.Hamburg owes the birth of his style. The time of apprenticeship ended here, hereHandeltried his hand at opera and oratorio - the leading genres of his mature work.

Handelwent to Italy. From the end of 1706 to April 1707 he lived in Florence and then in Rome. In the autumn of 1708, Handel achieved his first public success as a composer. With the help of Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany, he staged his first Italian opera, Rodrigo.He also competes in public competitions with the best of the best in Rome, and Domenico Scarlatti recognizes his victory. His harpsichord playing has been called diabolical, a flattering epithet for Rome. He writes two oratorios for Cardinal Ottoboni, which are immediately performed.

After success in Rome, Handel hurries south to sunny Naples. A constant rival of Venice in the arts, Naples had its own school and traditions. Handel stayed in Naples for about a year. During this time he wrote the charming serenade "Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus."Handel's main work in Naples was the opera Agrippina, written in 1709 and staged the same year in Venice, where the composer returned again. At the premiere, the Italians, with their usual ardor and enthusiasm, paid tribute to Handel. " They were thunderstruck by the grandeur and grandeur of his style; they had never known before all the power of harmony“, wrote someone present at the premiere.

Italy gave Handel a warm welcome. However, the composer could hardly count on a strong position in the “empire of Music.” The Italians had no doubt about Handel's talent. However, like Mozart later, Handel was ponderous for the Italians, too “German” in art. Handel went to Hanover and entered the service of the Elector as court bandmaster. However, he did not stay there long. The rude morals of the small German court, the absurd vanity and imitation of the big capitals caused disgustHandel. By the end of 1710, having received leaveat the elector's, he went to London.

There, Handel immediately entered the theatrical world of the British capital, received a commission from Aaron Hill, the tenant of the Tidemarket Theater, and soon wrote the opera Rinaldo.

To fateby Handelinfluenceddebut in the popular English genre of ceremonial music. In January 1713, Handel wrote the monumental Te Deum and Ode for the Queen's Birthday. Queen Anne was pleased with the musicOdesand personally signed permission to perform the Te Deum. On the occasion of the signing of the Peace of UtrechtJuly 7in the presence of the Queen and Parliamentunder the arches of St. Paul's Cathedral soundedthe solemn and majestic sounds of Handel’s Te Deum.

After the success of Te Deum, the composer decided to pursue a career in England.Until 1720, Handel was in the service of the old Duke Chandos, who was superintendent of the royal army under Anna. The Duke lived at Cannon Castle, near London, where he had an excellent chapel. Handel composed music for her.These years turned out to be very important - he mastered English style. Handel wrote anthemas and two masks - a modest number given his fabulous productivity. But these things (along with the Te Deum) turned out to be decisive.

The two antique performance masks were English in style. Handel later revised both works. One became an English opera (“Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus”), the other became the first English oratorio (“Esther”). Altemy — heroic epic, “Esther” is a heroic drama based on a biblical story. In these works, Handel already fully masters both the language and the nature of feelings expressed by the English in the art of sounds.

The influence of anthems and operatic style is clearly felt in Handel’s first oratorios - “Esther” (1732), and in the subsequent “Deborte”, “Athalia” (1733). And yet the main genre of the 1720-1730s remains opera. She consumes almost all of Handel's time, strength, health and fortune.In 1720, a theatrical and commercial enterprise was opened in London, it was called the “Royal Academy of Music”. Handel was tasked with recruiting the best singers in Europe, mainly from the Italian school. Handel became a free entrepreneur, a shareholder. For almost twenty years, starting in 1720, he composed and staged operas, recruited or disbanded a troupe, and worked with singers, orchestras, poets and impresarios.

This is the history that has been preserved. At one of the rehearsals, the singer was out of tune. Handel stopped the orchestra and reprimanded her. The singer continued to fake it. Handel began to grow angry and made another remark, in much stronger terms. The falsehood did not stop. Handel stopped the orchestra again and said: “ If you sing out of tune again, I'll throw you out the window." However, this threat did not help either. Then the huge Handel grabbed the little singer and dragged her to the window. Everyone froze. Handel placed the singer on the windowsill... and so that no one would notice, he smiled at her and laughed, after which he took her from the window and carried her back. After that, the singer began to sing clearly.

In 1723, Handel staged "The Distillation". He writes easily, melodically pleasant, it was the most popular opera in England in those days. In May 1723 - “Flavio”, in 1724 — operas: “Julius Caesar” and “Tamerlane”, in 1725 - “Rodelinda”. It was a victory. The last triad of operas was a worthy crown for the winner. But tastes have changed.For Handel the time has come hard times. The old Elector, the only strong patron - George I - died. The young king, George II, Prince of Wales, hated Handel, his father's favourite. George II intrigued him, inviting new Italians, and set enemies against him.

In 1734 - 35 French ballet was in vogue in London. Handel wrote operas and ballets in french style: “Terpsichore”, “Alcina”, “Ariodantus” and pasticcio “Orestes”. But in 1736, due to the aggravated political situation, the French ballet was forced to leave London and Handel went bankrupt. He fell ill and was paralyzed. The opera house was closed. Friends lent him some money and sent him to a resort in Aachen.The rest was as short as a dream. He woke up, he was on his feet, right hand moved. A miracle happened.

In Decembere 1737Handelcompletes Faramondo and takes on the opera Xerxes.At first 1738 the public willingly went to see Faramondo. In FebruaryHeput pasticcio "A"Lessandro Severo”, and in April - “Xerxes”. At this time, he wrote unusually well: the imagination was unusually rich, the excellent material obediently obeyed the will, the orchestra sounded expressive and picturesque, the forms were polished.

George Frideric Handel composes one of the best “philosophical” oratorios - “Cheerful, Thoughtful and Moderate” based on the beautiful youthful poems of Milton, a little earlier - “Ode to St. Cecilia" to Dryden's text. The famous twelve concerti grossi were written by him during these years. And it was at this time that Handel parted with opera. In January 1741, the last one, Deidamia, was staged.

Handelaftertwenty years of persistencebecame convinced that the sublime kind of opera seria had no meaning in a country like England. In 1740 he stopped contradicting English taste - and the British recognized his genius -Handelbecame the national composer of England.If Handel had written only operas, his name would still have taken pride of place in art history. But he would never have become the Handel we appreciate today.

HandelHe polished his style in opera, improved the orchestra, aria, recitative, form, voice performance; in opera he acquired the language of a dramatic artist. And yet, in the opera he failed to express the main ideas. The highest meaning of his work was oratorios.

A new era began for Handel on August 22, 1741. On this memorable day, he began the oratorio “Messiah.” Later writers would reward Handel with the sublime epithet - “creator of the Messiah.” For many generations she will be synonymous with Handel. “Messiah” is a musical and philosophical poem about human life and death, embodied in biblical images. However, reading Christian dogmas not as traditional as it may seem.

Handelcompleted Messiah on September 12. The oratorio had already begun to be rehearsed when Handel unexpectedly left London. He went to Dublin at the invitation of the Duke of Devonshire, viceroy English king in Ireland. He gave concerts there all season. On April 13, 1742, Handel staged Messiah in Dublin. The oratorio was warmly received.

On February 18, 1743, the first performance of “Samson” took place - a heroic oratorio based on the text of Milton, whichis one of the best European tragedies of the second half of the 17th century.Milton's "Samson" is a synthesis of the biblical plot and the genre of ancient Greek tragedy.

In 1743, Handel showed signs of a serious illness, but he recovered fairly quickly.10 February 1744composerdirected “Semela”, on March 2 - “Joseph”, in August he finished “Hercules”, in October - “Belshazzar”. In the autumn he again rents Covent Garden for the season. Winter 1745Handeldirects Belshazzar and Hercules. His rivals are making every effort to prevent the success of the concerts, but they succeed. In March, George Handel fell ill and fell ill, but his spirit was not broken.

11 Augustta 1746Handel completes the oratorio Judas Maccabee, one of his best oratorios on a biblical theme. In all of Handel’s heroic-biblical oratorios (and the composer has a whole series of them: “Saul”, “Israel in Egypt”, “Samson”, “Joseph”, “Belshazzar”, “Judas Maccabee”, “Joshua”) the focus is - the historical fate of the people. Their core is fight. The struggle of the people and their leaders against the invaders for independence, the struggle for power, the struggle with apostates in order to avoid decline. The people and their leaders are the main characters of the oratorio. People like actor in the form of a choir - Handel's heritage. Nowhere in music before him had people appeared in such guises.

In 1747 Handel once again rented Covent Garden. He gives a series of subscription concerts. On April 1 he staged “Judas Maccabee” and was a success.In 1747 Handel wrote the oratorios Alexander Balus and Joshua. He stages oratorios, writes “Solomon” and “Susanna”.

In 1751 the composer's health deteriorated. May 3, 1752 to himunsuccessfullyoperateeyes.In 1753, complete blindness sets in. Handel distracts himself with concerts, playing from memory or improvising. Occasionally writes music. On April 14, 1759 he died.

Handel’s friend and contemporary, writer and musicologist Charles Burney, wrote: “ Handel was a large, dense and heavy-moving man. His facial expression was usually gloomy, but when he smiled, he looked like he had broken through black clouds Sunbeam, and his whole appearance became full of joy, dignity and spiritual greatness" “This ray still illuminates and will always illuminate our lives.”

OrchestroThe great style of Handel (1685-1759) belongs to the same era in the development of orchestration as the style of his peer Bach. But he also has some peculiar features. Orchestral texture of oratorios, toconcertos for organ and orchestra and concHandel's erto grosso is close to the choral polyphonic texture. In operas, where the role of polyphony is much less, the composer is much more active in the search for new orchestral techniques. In particular, his flutes are found moretheir characteristic register (manyhigher than oboes); Having gained freedom in a new register, they become more mobile and independent.

Handel's greatest interest is in the grouping of instruments. By skillfully alternating groups, contrasting strings with wood or brass with drums, the composer achieves a variety of effects. Working in opera houses, Handel had a significant large trains, greater possibilities than Bach. His orchestration style is more lush and decorative.

Composer G. Handel is one of the outstanding people of the Enlightenment. It was thanks to him that such genres as opera and oratorio appeared in music. We can say that this man was a musical visionary because he anticipated the emergence of operatic drama and civic pathos, ideas inherent in Gluck and Beethoven. The composer Handel was an extremely interesting and stubborn person.

Nationality

It so happened that two countries can lay claim to the title of Handel’s homeland. By birth and blood he is German. Born and raised in Germany, he began his creative journey there. But England appeared in his life suddenly and remained there forever. It was there that his view of music was formed, new genres and directions appeared. England became the place where the composer Handel took place, where he became famous and popular.

Childhood and youth

The future composer was born in Halle into the family of a doctor. The boy began to show symptoms early and his father sent him to study best musician cities. The mentor was able to instill in Handel a good musical taste, achieve pure performance technique and introduced him to everyone musical styles and genres of that time. The composer Handel, whose biography is somewhat similar to the life story of Mozart, was already an excellent writer and performer by the age of 11, known throughout Germany.

Fulfilling his father's last wishes, Handel studied to become a lawyer at the university, but did not give up his music studies. Constantly honing his playing skills, he goes to Hamburg in search of inspiration. Opera theatre(one of the first in the country) attracts a musician. Handel, a composer of operas, worked there as a violinist and harpsichordist. But even such an activity did not prevent him from taking the best from the time spent within the walls of the theater. Unfortunately, the bankruptcy of the opera director leads to its closure.

Travel time

Leaving Germany, the composer Handel moved to Italy; his plans included visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples. There he again acquires knowledge, absorbs, like a sponge, the experience of the masters of the old school. He succeeds in this with such brilliance that a few months later his first Italian opera is published, which receives well-deserved recognition from the public. Soon after this, the composer began to receive private orders from rich and eminent Italians.

England

Having first appeared on the Misty Island in 1710 at the invitation of friends, the composer Handel, whose work will be inextricably linked in this country, finally crosses the English Channel only in 1716. Ten years later he accepted English citizenship. Here he was able to quickly captivate listeners with just the manner of his playing, and the operas were a stunning success. The new, fresh wave brought by Handel, a composer from the continent, completely alien in spirit to the British, stirred up bored listeners and returned their interest in music.

Features of British style

Composing in England, Handel went far beyond traditional Italian opera. His works amaze with their drama, depth, and brightness of characters. It helped raise musical creativity to a new level, to implement such necessary reforms in the approach to writing works. The composer Handel even became a public figure for some time because of his overly outstanding abilities. In England, reforms are coming in all areas, the people's self-awareness is growing, hence the negative attitude towards everything foreign.

Even after the alarming events and disgrace, Handel's authority in the bohemian environment did not decrease. An order from King George II helped strengthen it even more. Continuing his attempts to revive opera, the composer travels to Italy to find new artists. But the long, exhausting and partly political struggle for new genre ends in defeat. This undermines Handel's health, and he spends almost 8 months in bed. Having written two more operas, he finished working on this genre altogether.

Spiritual music

In 1738, two oratorios were presented to high society, later recognized as brilliant. But the composer does not stop there, but continues to write church music. In a short period of time, at the peak of inspiration and fame, Handel wrote four more stunning oratorios one after another. However, the aristocracy is trying to “throw him off” his creative pedestal. And for some time they succeed. The writer is overcome by severe depression. But the impending war with Scotland changes the mood in the country, and the British again elevate Handel among other composers. His works, written in honor of the English victory, became anthems new era And the final stage great creative path.

End of life

In 1751, blindness puts Handel back into his hospital bed. Unfortunately, it is already irreversible, and this makes the composer fall into despair. A few years ago we loved and respected everyone, now he was left behind these celebrations alone with difficulties. But despite this, he continues to stubbornly play his works in public. According to the composer's wishes, after his death he was buried in Westminster.

All composers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially Beethoven, had a special reverence for Handel's creative genius. Even three centuries later, in our modern age, Handel's powerful and profound music resonates with listeners. It makes you look at old stories in a new way and takes on a different meaning, closer to contemporaries. Every year in Germany and England there are holidays and festivals dedicated to this. They attract a huge number of both professional musicians and just tourists from different corners planets. This means that his work has not been forgotten; it will glorify the memory of its creator for many years, perhaps even centuries. And Handel’s spirit will invisibly and incorporeally support the creators of operas and oratorios, like a guardian angel.