Handel in London - The Making of a Genius

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Handel in London - The Making of a Genius by Jane Glover: 3. Decline

3. Decline

Handel in London - The Making of a Genius by Jane Glover

BBC Radio 4 - Handel in London - The Making of a Genius by Jane Glover, 3. Decline

Handel triumphs at the coronation of a new king, but his operatic fortunes fare less well.

Handel’s music triumphs at the King’s coronation but his operatic fortunes take a turn for the worse. Read by the author.

Handel’s music triumphs at the coronation of a new king.

However, his operatic fortunes at the Royal Academy take a turn for the worse with the rise of a new English rival: ballad opera.

Jane Glover's Handel in London tells the story of a young German composer who, in 1712, followed his princely master to London and would remain there for the rest of his life.

That master would become King George II, and the composer was George Frederic Handel. He would be at the heart of musical activity in London for the next four decades, composing masterpiece after masterpiece, whether the glorious coronation anthem Zadok the Priest, operas such as Giulio Cesare and Alcina or the great oratorios, culminating, of course, in Messiah.

Jane Glover, who has conducted Handel’s work in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world, draws on her profound understanding of music and musicians to tell Handel’s story.

Featuring music from Handel’s vast output.

Abridged by Eileen Horne.

Read by Jane Glover.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2018.

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