George Frideric Handel was born one month before J.S. Bach on February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany. He was a master of Italian opera and English oratorio. Being the son of a barber-surgeon, who wanted him to study law he did not come from a family of musicians. However, Handel showed great musical talent at an early age. At the age of seven he was a skillful performer on the harpsichord and organ. His father recognized his amazing talent and allowed him to study with a local organist and composer. By the age of nine he began to compose music. In 1702, he obeyed his father's wishes and began to study law at the University of Halle, but it did not last very long. He at the young age of eighteen left for Hamburg where he accepted a position as a violinist and harpsichordist in the orchestra of the opera house. The opera house in Hamburg was where his first opera Almira was successfully produced in early 1705. Handel's second opera Nero was also produced there. In 1707, Handel went to Italy where he continued to perfect his operatic style. In 1710, he returned to Germany where he became Kapellmeister for Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover. He then took a leave of absence to to London where his opera Rinaldo was being produced. Rinaldo was a success, and he returned to Hanover for a short time. He again took a leave of absence to go to London and settled there in 1712. In 1714 the royal patron that he had left behind in Hanover followed him to London where he reigned as George I, as the first Hanoverian king. Handel wrote Water Music for his former employer. He continued to write Italian style operas and became a favorite among England. In 1720-1728 he was the director of the Royal Academy of Music and a partner in the management of the King's Theatre in 1729-1734. The Royal Academy of Music eventually folded and inspired him to form his own company to produce his own works. He los
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