(1685–1759)
a German composer who came to live in London in 1712 and stayed until his death, becoming a British citizen in 1726. Handel’s music has always been especially popular with British people. He wrote 40 operas but his best-known works are his 20 oratorios, musical dramas based on stories from the Bible, especially the Messiah , about the coming of Jesus Christ. He also wrote music for ceremonies at the court of King George I , including Water Music (1717) and Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749). Handel stopped writing music in 1751 because he was going blind. He is buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey .