I hope you're in the mood for some truly beautiful music… much of it involving singing. I don't know if I can convert anyone to the delights of early 18^th century opera but the songs I'm going to play you in this episode are I think some of the most exquisite ever written. Handel was born in 1685 in Halle near Leipzig in what is now north-eastern Germany and died in London in 1759. By the time he died he was not just the most successful composer in Great Britain… he was one of the most successful people in the nation. And here is a little quote generated by Claude  whilst I was researching this show. It is I think a pretty good summary of why Handel's music has persisted for three centuries… 'The music combines German rigor, Italian lyricism, and English choral traditions into a distinctive, accessible style characterized by memorable melodies, dramatic contrasts, and psychological insight.'