George Frideric Handel: The Opera King of London (Key Stage 2)
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Have you ever wondered who a composer really was?
The answer is they were people, just like you and me. They practised hard and sometimes found it tricky.
But they never gave up.
I would like to introduce you to George Frideric Handel.
He isn't a dusty museum portrait; he was a living, breathing musical force of nature who lived life to the absolute loudest.
The Duel and Handel's Brass Button
Before he was famous, 19-year-old Handel played the keyboard (harpsichord) in an opera house in Hamburg, Germany. His best friend Johann Mattheson was a brilliant writer and composer. He would later help map out how musical keys connect on the Circle of Fifths, but he has to grow up first, just like you.
One night in 1704, the two friends got into a massive argument over who got to play the keyboard (harpsichord) for the show. The row spilled out into the street, swords were drawn, and Mattheson lunged straight for Handel’s chest!
That was, potentially, the final blow. It could have been the end of music history as we know it, but CLANG! Mattheson’s blade struck a massive, broad brass button on Handel’s coat and shattered. Instead of staying enemies, they laughed it off, went out for a huge dinner, and remained friends for life.
The High-Stakes Opera Boss
Handel eventually moved to London and became a British citizen. In 1719, he was hired as the artistic boss of the Royal Academy of Music.
This wasn't a school, but a glamorous, high-stakes opera company backed by the King himself. Handel’s job was to hunt down the most famous singing superstars in Europe. To find them, he travelled straight to Dresden, scouting for talent in the exact same royal court where our friends Christian Petzold and Johann Georg Pisendel were writing and performing!
A Massive Appetite and a Massive Heart
Handel loved success, but he loved food even more. He was a large man who would frequently order a tavern dinner meant for three people and eat every single bite himself.
Yet, for all his loud shouting in rehearsals, Handel had an incredibly generous soul. He became a governor of the Foundling Hospital, London’s first home for abandoned babies and orphans. Every year, Handel conducted massive charity concerts of his famous Messiah at the hospital, raising thousands of pounds to ensure the children were fed, clothed, and educated.
Handel showed the world that music isn't just about dots on a page; it is about passion, resilience, and looking after your circle of friends.
What is Opera?
An opera is a grand stage show where the actors sing all of their lines instead of speaking. Imagine a play, but set to music, where every word—from the exciting arguments to the quietest secrets—is sung!
In the Baroque era, opera was the most glamorous and high-stakes form of entertainment, often backed by Kings and featuring the most famous singing superstars in Europe. It is an immersive blend of mythology, elaborate scenery, and incredible star power.
To follow the story, audiences listen for two main types of singing:
Recitative: This is "sung speech" used to move the plot along quickly.
Aria: This is a beautiful, melodic solo where a character stops to reflect on their feelings.
George Frideric Handel was a master of this art form, even serving as the artistic boss of the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he scouted for the world's best talent to bring these musical stories to life.
Listening Exercise
Stage 2 Lap-Book Version
Stage 11
Listen to the Air & Variations played on a Harpsichord
Listening Questions
Listen to the Stage 2 version of the piece. What sound reminds you of a heavy blacksmith's hammer?
Listen to the Stage 11 version of the piece. Can you hear variations where it sounds faster but the beat is the same? How does that change the character?
Handel loved to tell stories through his music. Listen to the harpsichord version of the piece. What would you call the piece and why?
Baroque Lap Book Project
For the Baroque Lap Book project you are starting with an un-decorated version of the main TMEP Stage 2 theme (above)
Download the Handel Section on this link
You will need the following information for your lap book.
Baroque Era Superpower Accordion
Ornamentation: Add extra notes or decorations to a melody.
Baroque Organ: This is a massive, powerful keyboard instrument from the 1600s and 1700s that uses giant bellows to blast air through rows of hollow pipes.
Opera: A stage show where the actors sing all of their lines.
Four Flap Composer Info Hub
Handel
Flap : Born 1685 Died 1759
Opened London’s first home for abandoned babies and orphans
Cover Image
Comprehension Questions
What unlikely object saved Handel's life during a fight with his friend Johann Mattheson?
a) A wooden shield
b) A large brass button on his coat
c) A music stand
d) A heavy book
What was Handel’s role at the Foundling Hospital in London, and what did he do to help the children there?
a) He was the cook and baked them bread.
b) He was a teacher and taught them how to play the violin.
c) He was a governor and conducted charity concerts to raise money.
d) He was the head doctor and provided medicine.
Besides being a famous composer, what was one other thing Handel was famously known for enjoying?
a) Gardening
b) Fishing
c) Eating a lot of food
d) Painting portraits
Words to Learn
Composer: A person who writes music.
Opera: A stage show where the actors sing all of their lines instead of speaking.
Harpsichord: An early keyboard instrument similar to a piano, but with a unique, plucky sound.
Baroque: A grand and detailed style of art and music from about 1600–1750.
Foundling Hospital: A historical home in London for orphaned children that Handel supported through charity concerts.
Recitative: This is "sung speech" used to move the plot along quickly.
Aria: This is a beautiful, melodic solo where a character stops to reflect on their feelings.
