Who was GF Handel?

George Frideric Handel (/ˈhændəl/ _HAN-dəl_; German: Georg Friedrich Händel [ˈɡeːɔʁk ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈhɛndəl] (listen); 23 February [O.S. 5 March] 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born British composer of Baroque music, mainly operas, oratorios, anthems, concertos and organ works. He was also an accomplished harpsichordist, and occasionally the conductor of his works, both in London and Dublin. Handel's first 25 years were spent in Halle and Hamburg, and later in Italy, where he composed operas and other pieces in the styles of the great Italian composers of the late Baroque, notably Alessandro Scarlatti, Arcangelo Corelli, and Antonio Vivaldi.

After settling permanently in London in 1712, Handel produced operas for the Royal Academy of Music until 1741. He then focused on oratorios, English choral music, and concerto grossos. His best-known works include Messiah, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and numerous concerti grossi, chamber suites and organ concertos.

Handel was renowned as a flamboyant and gifted performer, and also displayed his compositional and performing talents throughout Europe, including Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence and Germany, before settling in England. He was feted by nobility across the continent: King George I of Great Britain gave him a generous annual stipend, while other monarchs and aristocrats commissioned works from him.

Handel died in London and is buried in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.