大象传媒

Handel finds himself in demand at rival royal courts in Germany and Britain. Which will he choose? Presented by Donald Macleod.

What could be more quintessentially British than a rousing chorus of Handel鈥檚 Hallelujah Chorus? Or his anthem Zadok the Priest, which has been performed at every British coronation since 1727? Yet, though the composer became was a naturalised British subject, he was born in Germany and kept his German accent all of his life. The same was true of the two kings Handel served, George I and George II. This week, as we head towards a royal jubilee weekend, Donald Macleod explores Handel鈥檚 crucial relationship with the British monarchy, and how he and the Georgian Kings helped forge a new sense of British culture and identity.

In today鈥檚 programme, Donald follows Handel to Hanover, and a prestigious new job at the court of the prince-elector. Almost immediately he鈥檚 restless to explore new opportunities. Then, London beckons.

Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
Collegium 1704,
Collegium Vocale 1704
Directed by V谩clav Luks

Agrippina, Act 2: "Pensieri, voi mi tormentate"
Alexandrina Pendatchanska, soprano (Agrippina)
Akademie f眉r Alte Musik Berlin
conducted by Ren茅 Jacobs

Handel: Concerto Grosso in Bb, Op.3 No.1
The English Consort
Directed by Trevor Pinnock

Rinaldo, Act 1: 鈥淐ara Sposa鈥�
Kimberly Barber, mezzo soprano (Rinaldo)
Laura Whalen, soprano (Almirena)
Barbara Hannigan, soprano (Armida)
The Aradia Ensemble
Directed by Kevin Mallon

鈥楿trecht鈥� Jubilate
William Towers, alto
Julian Podger, tenor
Wolfram Lattke, tenor
Peter Harvey, bass
The Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Jos Van Veldhoven

Produced by Chris Taylor