The Elector and/or the King
Donald Macleod traces Handel’s move from Hanover to London, where operatic success and royal connections transform his career.
Donald Macleod follows Handel’s move north to Hanover and his increasingly decisive drift towards London. Appointed to the Elector’s court, he secured generous terms - including the freedom to travel - and wasted little time in doing so. London proved irresistible: success with Rinaldo made him a sensation, and the pull of the city soon outweighed his duties back in Germany. Handel’s returns to Hanover became brief and reluctant, as he repeatedly slipped back across the Channel in search of opportunity. The situation took an unexpected turn when his employer, the Elector Georg Ludwig, inherited the British throne as George I - leaving Handel, now firmly established in London, dependent once again on the favour of the very patron from whom he had struggled to run away...
Eternal Source of Light Divine
Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Harry Christophers, conductor
In den angenehmen Büschen (Nine German Arias)
Emma Kirkby, soprano
London Baroque
Rinaldo: Overture
Freiburger Barockorchester
René Jacobs, conductor
Silla: Overture
London Handel Orchestra
Denys Darlow, conductor
Il pastor fido: Sol nel mezzo risona del core
Allan Clayton, tenor
The Mozartists
Ian Page, conductor
Water Music Suite No. 2 in D major
The English Concert
Trevor Pinnock, conductor
Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Eternal Source of Light Divine
Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Christophers.- HELIODOR : 4765970.
- HELIODOR.
- 2.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
In den angenehmen Buschen, HWV.209
Singer: Emma Kirkby. Ensemble: London Baroque.- ERATO : 6449382.
- ERATO.
- 12.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Rinaldo, HWV.7a (excerpt)
Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs. Singer: Lawrence Zazzo. Singer: Vivica Genaux. Singer: Miah Persson.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901796.98.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 1.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Silla, HWV.10 Overture
Performer: London Handel Orchestra. Performer: Denys Darlow.- SOMM : SOMMCD-227.
- SOMM.
- 1.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Il Pastor Fido, HWV. 8a (Sol nel mezzo risona del core)
Singer: Allan Clayton. Orchestra: The Mozartists. Conductor: Ian Page.- SIGNUM : SIG CD-457.
- SIGNUM.
- 2.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Water Music Suite in D major, HWV.349
Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.- ARCHIV : 410-525 - 2.
- ARCHIV.
- 10.
Broadcast
- Yesterday 16:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.