Divided Loyalties

Handel finds himself in demand at rival royal courts in Germany and Britain. Which will he choose? Presented by Donald Macleod.

What could be more quintessentially British than a rousing chorus of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus? Or his anthem Zadok the Priest, which has been performed at every British coronation since 1727? Yet, though the composer became was a naturalised British subject, he was born in Germany and kept his German accent all of his life. The same was true of the two kings Handel served, George I and George II. This week, as we head towards a royal jubilee weekend, Donald Macleod explores Handel’s crucial relationship with the British monarchy, and how he and the Georgian Kings helped forge a new sense of British culture and identity.

In today’s programme, Donald follows Handel to Hanover, and a prestigious new job at the court of the prince-elector. Almost immediately he’s restless to explore new opportunities. Then, London beckons.

Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
Collegium 1704,
Collegium Vocale 1704
Directed by Václav Luks

Agrippina, Act 2: "Pensieri, voi mi tormentate"
Alexandrina Pendatchanska, soprano (Agrippina)
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
conducted by René Jacobs

Handel: Concerto Grosso in Bb, Op.3 No.1
The English Consort
Directed by Trevor Pinnock

Rinaldo, Act 1: “Cara Sposa”
Kimberly Barber, mezzo soprano (Rinaldo)
Laura Whalen, soprano (Almirena)
Barbara Hannigan, soprano (Armida)
The Aradia Ensemble
Directed by Kevin Mallon

‘Utrecht’ Jubilate
William Towers, alto
Julian Podger, tenor
Wolfram Lattke, tenor
Peter Harvey, bass
The Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Jos Van Veldhoven

Produced by Chris Taylor