Donald Macleod explores the life and music of George Frideric Handel through the patrons, employers and institutions that helped shape his career. From the aristocratic circles of Italy and the court of Hanover to royal favour in Britain and the charitable culture of Dublin, Handel proved adept at navigating the worlds on which composers depended. Yet he remained unusually independent, moving between courts, theatres and concert halls while steadily building a career on his own terms. Along the way, patronage could offer opportunity, security and prestige, but it also brought rivalries, competing loyalties and political complications. Through sacred music, opera, anthem and oratorio, this podcast traces how Handel responded to the people and places that supported his work.

Music featured includes extracts from:

Dixit Dominus, HWV 232 Tu fedel? Tu costante?, HWV 171a: Recitative and aria Rodrigo, HWV 5: Overture; recitative and aria Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a: Overture Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a: "Pure del cielo" La Resurrezione, HWV 47 Eternal Source of Light Divine, HWV 74 Nine German Arias, HWV 202–210: No. 6, "In den angenehmen Büschen" Rinaldo, HWV 7a: Overture Silla, HWV 10: Overture Il pastor fido, HWV 8a: "Sol nel mezzo risona del core" Water Music Suite No. 2 in D major, HWV 349 Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a: "Love sounds th'alarm" As Pants the Hart, HWV 251b Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a: Sinfonia Esther, HWV 50a Coronation Anthem: Zadok the Priest, HWV 258 Coronation Anthem: My Heart Is Inditing, HWV 261 Riccardo Primo, HWV 23: Act III Chorus Atalanta, HWV 35: Overture Alexander's Feast, HWV 75 Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline, HWV 264 Messiah, HWV 56: Sinfonia L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV 55: "Sweet Bird" Imeneo, HWV 41 Messiah, HWV 56: Part III Foundling Hospital Anthem, HWV 268

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002yxkn.

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z.