Handel in England
Handel went to England about fifteen years after the death of Purcell, “The Orpheus of England.” Handel was quick to see Purcell’s good points and modelled his first English work to celebrate the Peace of Utrecht, on Purcell’s Te Deum.
After arriving in London he wrote Rinaldo with an Italian libretto in fourteen days! He was the speed maniac of the 17th and 18th centuries. His librettist said of him, “Mr. Handel barely allowed me time to compose my verses.” Later he arranged Rinaldo for harpsichord and all England played it, especially the lovely aria Lascia ch’io Piango (Let Me Weep).
Yet Handel doesn’t seem to have made money out of Rinaldo, which brought the publisher, Walsh, $10,000, about which Handel said, “My dear fellow, the next time you shall compose the opera and I will publish it.” (History of Music, by Paul Landormy.)
Later, he became the guest of the Duke of Chandos, at whose house he wrote at least sixteen compositions.
King George had been very angry with Handel for leaving Hanover and remaining in England, but forgave him later, and Handel was made Director of the Royal Academy of Music which the King founded in 1719. Among Handel’s duties were the getting of the artists for the operas. This meant much to him and allowed him to travel all over Europe. He composed operas almost as people wrote their letters, for in eight years he produced eleven successful operas! Think of that for work!
Handel and His Rivals
But—he had a rival, Battista Buononcini, protégé of the mighty Duke of Marlborough, and a musical war raged in London. John Byrom, a humorist of the day wrote:
Some say, as compared to Buononcini
That Mynheer Handel’s but a ninny