George Frideric Handel

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Guided by John Mainwaring's 1760 biography Memoirs of the Life of the Late George Frederic Handel, Donald Macleod follows the young composer as he completes his 'grand tour' of Italy and takes up a new post. The composer then decides to settle in England and is plunged into the very centre of the London music scene. In 1720s and 30s, Handel devoted most of his time to the challenging business of working in the opera scene in London. It required a robust ego, a shrewd business sense and a strong character. Finally, Donald Macleod explores a golden decade of enduring oratorios that would seal his reputation, and gaining a rare insight into the composer's elusive personality.