Handel in London
The Making of a Genius
Published on 22. August 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-5098-8208-3 (ISBN)
Description
'How refreshing, to read a book about music written for a music lover and not a musicologist. In clear, lucid, entertaining prose, Jane Glover makes those of us who lack musical literacy better understand and appreciate Handel's divinity.' - Donna Leon, author of Handel's Bestiary and the Inspector Brunetti mysteries.
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 Frideric Handel.
Handel, then still only twenty-seven and largely self-taught, 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, Rinaldo and Alcina or the great oratorios, culminating, of course, in Messiah.
Here, 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. It is a story of music-making and musicianship, of practices and practicalities, but also of courts and cabals, of theatrical rivalries and of eighteenth-century society. It is also, of course, the story of some of the most remarkable music ever written, music that has been played and sung, and loved, in this country - and throughout the world - for three hundred years.
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 Frideric Handel.
Handel, then still only twenty-seven and largely self-taught, 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, Rinaldo and Alcina or the great oratorios, culminating, of course, in Messiah.
Here, 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. It is a story of music-making and musicianship, of practices and practicalities, but also of courts and cabals, of theatrical rivalries and of eighteenth-century society. It is also, of course, the story of some of the most remarkable music ever written, music that has been played and sung, and loved, in this country - and throughout the world - for three hundred years.
Reviews / Votes
How refreshing, to read a book about music written for a music lover and not a musicologist. In clear, lucid, entertaining prose, Jane Glover makes those of us who lack musical literacy better understand and appreciate Handel's divinity. -- Donna Leon Handel's workload leaves one breathless. Reading, in Jane Glover's beautiful prose, about the astonishing succession of masterpieces he composed is almost overwhelming. As is the schedule for the singers and musicians who learned one lengthy opera whilst performing another. I now have a much clearer picture of the man himself as he adapted his operas to suit the singers at his disposal, rewriting arias and nurturing young artists, and of his generosity in all he did for the Foundling Hospital. I'm full of admiration for the subject of the book, as I am for its author. -- Dame Felicity Lott Behind Jane Glover's baton lurks a brilliant explainer in words, as well as music, able to unravel the threads of musical technique, performance history, and social and political events, exploring each before braiding them tightly together to weave a brightly coloured tapestry of Handel, of his music, and of the world about him. Handel in London is an education, and a delight. -- Judith Flanders Delightfully readable, informed and enlivened like no other Handel biography by Jane Glover's understanding of a professional music director's life. -- Dr Ruth Smith, author of<i> Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought</i> Jane Glover gives us a welcome portrait of Handel as a hard-working composer and conductor. She makes us feel the bruising schedule he set for himself, and for all who worked with him, from the point of view of a conductor who knows full well what it takes to mount Handel's great opera or oratorios. She details Handel's uncanny ability to choose his singers when given the opportunity, and she illustrates his amazing skill for writing to the strengths of all his singers, while also bringing to life the characters they portrayed. -- Professor Ellen T. HarrisMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
16pp b/w & colour plates
Dimensions
Height: 192 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
344 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5098-8208-3 (9781509882083)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
In Jane Glover's long and hugely successful career as a conductor, she has been Music Director of the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Artistic Director of The London Mozart Players, and, since 2002, is Music Director of Chicago's Music of the Baroque. She has conducted all the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain, as well as many in the United States of America and across the world. She appears regularly at the BBC Proms and is a regular broadcaster, with highlights including a television series on Mozart. She is also the author of Mozart's Women. She lives in London.
Content
Section - i: List of Illustrations Section - ii: Foreword Section - iii: Author's Note Section - iv: Preface Chapter - 1: EARLY YEARS 'An infant rais'd by thy command' [Saul] Chapter - 2: LONDON, 1710 'Populous cities please me then' [L'Allegro] Chapter - 3: THE FINAL STUART YEARS 'Cease, ruler of the day, to rise' [Hercules] Chapter - 4: HANOVER IN LONDON 'From mighty kings he took the spoil' [Judas Maccabaeus] Chapter - 5: THE LAUNCH OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY 'Music, spread thy voice around' [Solomon] Chapter - 6: THE FORTUNES OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY 'Ah! think what ills the jealous prove' [Hercules] Chapter - 7: NEW BEGINNINGS 'Now a different measure try' [Solomon] Chapter - 8: NEW ENDINGS 'Toss'd from thought to thought I rove' [Alexander Balus] Chapter - 9: DEFIANCE 'All danger disdaining' [Deborah] Chapter - 10: RECOVERY AND REINVENTION 'Strange reverse of human fate' [Alexander Balus] Chapter - 11: 'Hallelujah' Chapter - 12: WINDING DOWN 'Great in wisdom, great in glory' [Judas Maccabaeus] Chapter - 13: THE FINAL ACT 'With honour let desert be crown'd' [Judas Maccabaeus] Section - v: Afterword Acknowledgements - vi: Acknowledgements Section - vii: Bibliography Section - viii: Notes Index - ix: Index