4. Messiah

Handel’s operatic rivals struggle while he suffers from health problems, before travelling to Ireland to present a new work.

It's the premiere of an oratorio based on biblical texts he calls Messiah.

Jane Glover's Handel in London tells the story of a young German composer who in 1712, followed his princely master to London and would remain there for the rest of his life.

That master would become King George II and the composer was George Frederic Handel. He would be at the heart of musical activity in London for the next four decades, composing masterpiece after masterpiece, whether the glorious coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest, operas such as Giulio Cesare and Alcina or the great oratorios, culminating, of course, in Messiah.

Jane Glover, who has conducted Handel’s work in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world, draws on her profound understanding of music and musicians to tell Handel’s story.

Featuring music from Handel’s vast output.

Abridged by Eileen Horne.

Read by Jane Glover.

Producer: Clive Brill

A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2018