George Friedrich Handel

Handel, George Friedrich (1685–1759), German-born composer who settled in England in 1712, one of the greatest composers of the baroque period. After establishing himself as an opera composer in Germany and Italy, he turned to oratorio to suit British tastes. His most famous works in this genre are Saul (1739), Israel in Egypt (1739), The Messiah (1742), and Belshazzar (1745). The rest of his vast output includes 46 operas, almost 100 cantatas, many orchestral works, and 28 additional oratorios.