George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, to George Handel and Dorothea Taust in Halle, Germany. Handel's father forbade him from using musical instruments because he wanted him to study law. However, Handel secretly learned to play the harpsichord and organ and became a talented performer. During a trip to Weissenfels that Handel and his father took to see Handel's nephew, who was Duke Johann Adolf I's valet, Handel had the opportunity to play the organ. Everyone was impressed by his performance, and Handel and the Duke were able to persuade his father to let Handel receive music lessons from Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, who played the organ at the Marienkirche in Halle. Handel received lessons in harpsichord, oboe, organ and violin. Handle acceded to his father's wish by attending the University of Halle and studying civil law in 1702. He played the organ at the Evangelical Reformed Church for a year before leaving to play the harpsichord and violin in the orchestra of the Opera am Gansemarkt in Hamburg. In 1705, he produced Almira and Néro, which were his first two operas. Three years later, he produced two additional operas entitled Daphne and Florindo. He meets Gian Gastone de Medici in Hamburg and invites him to Italy. In 1706, Handel accepted his offer and went to Italy and worked with Antonio Salvi. His first opera which he composed for an Italian performance was entitled Rodrigo and was performed in 1707 at the Cocomero Theater in Florence. He wrote his first oratorio entitled Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno in 1707. He produced music for the clergy of Rome, including his popular work Dixit Dominus. Handel also composed La resurrezione for Francesco Ruspoli in 1709...... middle of paper ......s left with four afflicted fingers on his right hand which dissuaded him from playing. However, he quickly returned to his duties. William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire asked Handel to travel to Dublin to organize benefit concerts for hospitals in 1741. The first performance of Handel's popular Messiah took place in 1742 at the New Music Hall. The use of an English soloist reached its peak with Samson's early debut. He wrote Music for the Royal Fireworks in 1749, and 12,000 people were present for the first performance. He organized a benefit concert of his work Messiah to raise money for Foundling Hospital. This benefit concert was so successful that every year, concerts were organized to raise funds for hospitals. Handel died at home at the age of 74 in 1759. More than three thousand people attended his funeral at Westminster Abbey and his funeral received full state honors (George).