GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is one of the greatest figures in the history of European music and he was transcending national boundaries already in his own time. He was born on 23rd February 1685 in Halle an der Saale. Very early he showed remarkable musical gifts and he had lessons with Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, then organist at the Marktkirche, who made him familiar not only with the rich musical tradition of his native region but also with “ the diffferent styles of different nations”, as John Mainwaring later reported. Only a few titles of his numerous compositions in Halle are known and not a single one of these works has come down to us directly.

Altogether Handel left more than 600 works in all genres, among them over 100 Italian cantatas, duets and trios, more than 40 operas, about 30 oratorios, serenades and odes as well as numerous instrumental works.

For most of his life, from 1712 to 1759, Handel resided in London; he remained always, however, in contact with his hometown. He often visited his mother, who lived here until her death in 1730, and he was always interested in the fate of members of his family, as we may conclude from his letters handed down to us.

Already in his own lifetime, Handel achieved great fame in London. In Vauxhall Gardens a marble statue was erected to his honour and he was given a special burial in Westminster Abbey. His works were performed again and again and in the year 1784 the homage paid to him attained its first great climax when the 100th anniversary of his birth was celebrated.

After Handel’s death various places on the continent of Europe began to perform his music -  in Halle his great oratorios were the prefered works from 1803 on. The tradition of “ Händel-Festspiele” (festivals) or “Händel-Tage” (Handel days) goes back to 1922. After 1945 Halle became a starting point for a new renaissance of the cultivation of Handel’s works. In 1948 the composer’s birthplace was turned into a memorial and a Handel museum combined with a city music museum was opened. It attracts admirers of Handel’s music from all over the world. From 1952 on Handel festivals have taken place in Halle in June every year. Especially significant for performance is the  Hallische Händel-Ausgabe, the new edition of the complete works. These scores as well as the "Händel-Jahrbücher" are published, among other activities, by the  Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gesellschaft, an international society founded in 1955, which is also based here in the Handel House.