George Frideric Handel Net Worth

About George Frideric Handel

George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (February 23, 1685 – April 14, 1759) was a German-born Baroque composer with an estimated net worth of $20 million. Handel is known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi and organ concertos.

German-born Baroque composer George Frideric Handel had an inflation-adjusted net worth of $20 million dollars at the time of his death, in 1759.

Handel was born to Georg Handel (1622-97) and Dorothea Taust (1651-1730). Handel’s father, Georg, was a barber-surgeon for the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels; his mother was the daughter of a pastor.

Born: February 23, 1685 – Halle Died: April 14, 1759 – London

Handel Quick Facts:

  • Handel wrote pieces of music for every genre of his time and even invented English oratorio. Handel is most famous for his English oratorio, Messiah.
  • Handel was born in the same year as Bach in a town 50 miles away.
  • In February of 1727, Handel applied to become a naturalized British citizen.

Childhood

Because Handel’s father wanted him to become a lawyer, Georg prevented Handel from playing any musical instruments. However, Handel managed to sneak past his father’s command by playing the hidden clavichord in the attic. At the age of 9, the Duke heard Handel playing the organ and convinced Georg to let Handel study music under Friedrich Zachow. When Handel was just 12, his father died leaving Handel as the “man of the household.”

Teenage Years

Perhaps just in case Handel’s musical career was not as successful as he hoped it would be, records show that Handel had, in fact, enrolled into Halle University in 1702. A month later, Handel was appointed organist at the Calvinist Cathedral, but after one year, his contract was not renewed. Handel decided that he would follow his musical dreams and shortly thereafter, he left Halle for Hamburg.

Early Adult Years

In Hamburg, Handel played violin and harpsichord for the only opera company in Germany that existed outside the royal courts, and also taught private lessons. Handel wrote his first opera, Almira in 1704. In 1706, Handel moved to Italy, where he gained a wealth of knowledge on setting Italian lyrics to voice. In 1710, he was appointed Kapellmeister at Hanover, but soon took leave to London. Then, in 1719, he became musical director of the Royal Academy of Music.

Mid Adult Years

Much of Handel’s time during the 1720’s and 30’s was spent composing operas. However, he still found time to compose many other works. During the last few years of the 1730’s, Handel’s operas were not as successful. Afraid of his future success, he responded by focusing more on oratorio. In 1741, Handel composed the wildly successful Messiah which was originally sung by a choir of 16 and an orchestra of 40. He left to Dublin for the premiere of the piece.

Late Adult Years

During the last ten years of Handel’s life, he regularly performed his Messiah. Because of its success, he returned to London and with a new found confidence he composed Samson along with many others. Before his death, Handel had lost his vision due to cataracts. He died on April 14, 1759. At the time of his death, George Frideric Handel’s net worth was $20 million.

He was buried at Westminster Abbey, and it was said that over 3,000 people attended his funeral.

Selected Works by Handel

Oratorios

  • Messiah – HWV 56 – 1741
  • Samson – HWV 57 – 1741
  • Semele – HWV 58 – 1743
  • Joseph and his Brethren – HWV 59 – 1743
  • Hercules – HWV 60 – 1744
  • Belshazzar – HWV 61 – 1744
  • Judas Maccabaeus – HWV 63 – 1746
  • Joshua – HWV 64 – 1747
  • Alexander Balus – HWV 65 – 1747
  • Susanna – HWV 66 – 1748
  • Solomon – HWV 67 – 1748
  • Theodora – HWV 68 – 1749
  • The Choice of Hercules -HWV 69 – 1750
  • Jeptha – HWV 70 – 1751
  • The Triumph of Time and Truth – HWV 71 – 1752

Opera

  • Almira – HWV 1 – 1704
  • Nero – HWV 2 – 1705
  • Rodrigo – HWV 5 – 1707
  • Agrippina – HWV 6 – 1709
  • Giulio Cesare – 1724
  • Tolomeo, re di Egitto – HWV 25 – 1728
  • Orlando – HWV 31 – 1732

English Songs

  • As on a sunshine summer’s day – HWV 228(3)
  • Bacchus one day gaily striding (Bacchus’ Speech in Praise of Wine) – HWV 228(4)
  • Charming is your shape and air – HWV 228(5)
  • Come and listen (The Sailor’s Complaint) – HWV 228(6)
  • Love’s but the frailty of the mind – HWV 218
  • ’Twas when the seas were roaring – HWV 228(19)

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