Boureé

Georg Friederich Handel was Born in Halle, Germany.  Despite the disapproval of his father, he was allowed to study organ and composition in Halle. Handel moved to Hamburg where he worked in the opera house and had a number of his own operas performed.
He moved on to Italy (Florence, Rome, Naples, Venice) where he met Corelli and Domenico Scarlatti.
He travelled to London in 1711 where he settled and became a British citizen.  He wrote music for the church and the court of King George I, but opera was his main interest.  He was appointed musical director of the Royal Academy of Music which had just been formed to promote Italian opera.
Handel is buried in Westminster Abbey.