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When Bonnie Prince Charlie marches against London and George II, Handel rallies to the Hanoverian cause. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Handel was born in Germany, but he became a naturalised British citizen at the same time that two other native Germans, King George I and King George II, were also learning to be British after their house of Hanover acceded to the crown in 1714. This week, as we head towards the jubilee bank holiday, Donald Macleod uncovers Handel’s fascinating relationship with Britain’s monarchs, and examines how he and the Georgian kings helped kick-start a new age of British culture and identity.

Today, we see how Handel, now in his sixties, continued to find musical ways to demonstrate his unswerving loyalty to his king and fellow German expatriate, George II. Donald introduces works to celebrate the crown’s victory over the Jacobites, and Handel’s enduringly popular Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Occasional Oratorio: Overture
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Conducted by Howard Arman

Handel Organ Concerto Op.4 No.1: II. Allegro
Richard Egarr, organ and direction
Academy of Ancient Music

Judas Maccabaeus, Part 2: ‘See! The Conquering Hero Comes’, ‘Sing Unto God’ and ‘O Lovely Peace’
Maria Soledad de la Rosa, soprano (Israelitish Woman)
Mariana Rewerski, mezzo-soprano (Israelitish Man)
Choeur de Chambre de Namur
Les Agrémens
Directed by Leonardo García Alarcón

Music for the Royal Fireworks
The English Concert
Directed by Trevor Pinnock

Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
Huddersfield Choral Society
Northern Sinfonia
Conducted by Jane Glover

Produced by Chris Taylor