George Frideric Handel was born in Halle, Germany, on February 23, 1685, the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach. Germany.¹⁾

The lawyer father of Handel was not a supporter of his son's musical ambitions. Handel had to sneak up to the attic as a child to play a clavichord that had been concealed up there.²⁾

After a squabble with fellow composer Johann Mattheson in 1704, Handel's composition career may have been cruelly cut short. For unclear reasons, the two had a bitter feud in which Mattheson nearly murdered Handel with his sword, which thankfully struck a button on his chest rather than the chest itself.³⁾

When Handel arrived to London in 1712, Queen Anne gave him a very high salary of £200, indicating that he was a big hit.⁴⁾

Handel's success in London continued, and he was appointed musical director of the Royal Academy of Music.⁵⁾

In 1711, the first opera written specifically for the London stage was performed. The Queen's Theatre in Haymarket hosted the world premiere of Handel's Rinaldo.⁶⁾

Handel's first piece in the English language may not be his most well-known, but it was by far his most popular during his lifetime. In 1788, it was even given the honor of a minor rewrite by none other than Mozart.⁷⁾