'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.

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