George Frideric Handel was born in Halle, Germany on February 23, 1685. He overcame his father's strenuous objections in order to study music, but yielded to his father's wishes that he study law. He started his musical education many years prior to his graduation from the University of Halle in 1703. As a result of his keyboard performance at the age of seven he became the student of Friedrich Wilhelm Zacchow, a composer and organist, who taught him composition, organ, violin, and oboe. By 1695, Handel was composing for these and other instruments. Very few of the church cantatas and chambers works that he composed prior to 1701 still exist.
In 1703, he moved to Hamburg and joined the company of Rheinhard Keiser at the Goosemarket Theater as a violinist. In 1704, he produced his first opera, Almira. In 1706, Handel left Hamburg and over the next three years visited Florence, Venice, Rome, and Naples. During these travels he met many notable Italian musicians.
Handel journeyed to London in 1710 where his opera, Rinaldo, marked the high point of the 1710-1711 London season. After a brief trip to Hanover, he returned to London which became his permanent home. In 1712, Queen Anne awarded Handel an annual salary of £200. He accepted an invitation in 1719 to join with Giovanni Bonocini and Attilio Ariosti in the newly formed Royal Academy of Music (it lasted until 1728).
In 1726, Handel became a naturalized English citizen and was appointed composer of music to the Chapel Royal. After the failure of the first Royal Academy of Music, Handel immediately formed the New Royal Academy of Music. Italian opera became less popular in London and after the failure of Deidamia in 1741 Handel wrote no more operas. His failure with operas was offset by the growing success of his oratorios. His most famous oratorio, Messiah, containing the Hallelujah Chorus, was written during 1741. Messiah is often performed during the Christmas season.
Handel became totally blind in 1751. After that he was limited to revising earlier works and improvising on organ and harpsichord in public performances. He died in London on April 14, 1759.
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