Life
1685-1759 [var. Frederick]; b. Saxony; began to play violin at 7; encouraged
by Duke of Saxony; briefly attended university; worked as voilinist in
German Opera, Hamburg; travelled in Italy for four years; early works
incl. Alcina and Rinaldo; visited England, 1710 and returned
in 1712, settling at Brook St.; establishing himself as the premier composer;
suffered stroke, 1715; appt. court composer, 1724; invited to Dublin by
Lord Lieutenant Wm. Cavendish, 1741-42, and took up accommodation in Abbey
St.; his famous oratorio Messiah premiered at Mr. Neale’s
Great [var. New] Musick Hall, in Fishamble St., Dublin, before ‘the
most Grand, Polite, and Crowded Audience’ on 13 April, 1742, with
the combined choirs of Christchurch and St. Patrick’s; Handel died
in London from a fatal infection to the eye following an operation for
cataract. DNB OCEL BREF
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Criticism
Brendan McWilliams, musical notices in Irish Times 13 April, 1991
& 11 Dec, 1999..
Constantia Maxwell, Dublin Under the Georges 1714-1830 (London: George Harrap 1936).
La Tourette Stockwell (Irish Stage &c.), p. 356.
H[oratio] Townsend, ‘An Account of Handle’s Visit to Dublin’ (Dublin 1852).
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Notes
Brian de Breffny, ed., Ireland: A Cultural Encyclopaedia (London:
Thames & Hudson 1982), notes that Handel’s stay in Ireland was
the most illustrious chapter in the city’s [musical] chronicle, and
the premiere of Messiah, on 13 April 1742, its acme. [under music].
Dictionary of National Biography, records: ‘In Autumn 1741, Handel went to Dublin on the invitation of the Duke of Devonshire, then Lord Lieutenant ... a series of subscription concerts arranged at the new music hall in Fishamble St., where a number of his popular cantatas ... with instrument concertos [were played]. Handel had taken with him his new oratorio, finished in 23 days. It was first heard at rehearsal on 8 April; performed 13 April for the benefit of charities incl. prisoners in gaol. 700 people filled the hall, designed for 600; ladies were obliged to leave off their hoops and gentlemen their swords. The performance was repeated on 3 June.
Denis Florence MacCarthy, "Dublin Sonnet", in Sir John
Gilbert’s History of the City of Dublin [epigraph]: ‘Where Handel’s hand moves the great organ stops.’
Variants: Sir Paul Hervey’s Oxford Companion to English Literature (1951 edn.) gives name as George Frederick [orig. Haendel], and puts Messiah premiere at 1741 [chk]; Phyllis Hartnoll, ed., Oxford Companion to Theatre (1988) writes that it was ‘composed 22 Aug.-14 Sept. 1741, performed 13 April 1742 (Dublin), and London a year later (23 March 1743), to a libretto by Charles Jennens.
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)