Diplomatic Manoeuvres

Hanover’s prince-elector plans to capitalise on Handel’s favour with the British queen. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Handel was born in Germany, but he became a naturalised British citizen at the same time that two other native Germans, King George I and King George II, were also learning to be British after their house of Hanover acceded to the crown in 1714. This week, as we head towards the jubilee bank holiday, Donald Macleod uncovers Handel’s fascinating relationship with Britain’s monarchs, and examines how he and the Georgian kings helped kick-start a new age of British culture and identity.

In today’s programme, Handel appears to have cut his ties completely with the house of Hanover and pledged his loyalty to Britain’s Queen Anne. But not everything is as it seems. Queen Anne is sick, and Handel has a vital role to play behind the scenes, as the royal courts in both London and Hanover plan for the succession.

Te Deum in D (‘Queen Caroline’), Movts. 1 & 2.
Tim Mead, countertenor
Sean Clayton, tenor
Lisandro Abadie, bass-baritone
Les Arts Florissants
directed by William Christie

Water Music (selected movts.)
Le Concert des Nations
directed by Jordi Savall

Radamisto, Act 2: “Ombra caro di mia sposa”
Joyce di Donato, mezzo-soprano (Radamisto)
Il complesso Barocco
conducted by Alan Curtis,

I will magnify thee
Jacob Ferguson-Lobo (treble)
James Bowman (alto)
Michael McGuire (alto)
Jerome Finnis (tenor),
Maciek O'Shea (bass-baritone)
Choir of the Chapel Royal
The Musicians Extra-ordinary
conducted by Andrew Gant