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Handel
News
On this day: 14th April
Wednesday, 14 April 2010 10:52:55 BST
14 April 1759 – death of George Frideric Handel. Handel stayed in Ireland for about eight months after Messiah opened, but then returned to London, happier and richer. He had a cataract in one eye which was performed upon by ‘Chevalier’ John Taylor, oculist to the king, and considered widely to have caused the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. Handel went blind. He died in London aged 74. Over 3000 people attended his funeral and he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
On this day: 13th April
Tuesday, 13 April 2010 10:48:08 BST
13 April 1742 – the first performance of Handel’s Messiah. Handel was running the Covent Garden Theatre and had enjoyed fame and success in London. But times were changing, he was falling out of favour and the theatre was gaining a reputation as a low haunt. Handel jumped at an invitation to Dublin, to host a charity performance. He had written Messiah in three weeks in London, and despite initial protest from the church in Ireland, in Dublin it was debuted, to a rapturous reception.