George Frideric Handel Movies
Along with
Mozart,
Haydn, and
Beethoven,
Händel continues to be one of the most popular composers from the Classical era. Although born in Germany, he made his fame in England, and except for a Passion and a few songs with German texts, and more in Latin, French, and Italian, his vocal works are in the English language.
Händel's personality (like those of the other "great composers") has been distorted over time into the figure of a stern and pious disciplinarian, an image which cannot be further from the reality of this man who loved good food, drink, and general hedonistic pleasures. He was said to have had a wonderful sense of humor which would soften the criticisms of his easily raised temper and his imperious stubbornness.
Händel was raised a Lutheran but was no bigot, and loved England for its comparative religious freedom. "A good old Pagan at heart" was how the Victorian-age critic Edward Fitzgerald described him. However, in Farinelli (1994), perhaps for reasons of dramatic contrast,
Händel is shown as a manipulator and a brute, but one possessed of musical genius. He is championed by the castrato singer Carlo Broschi (known as Farinelli) who is the object of both
Händel's admiration and his scorn (
Händel calls Farinelli a "music machine" and makes fun of his manhood). But Farinelli, whose voice is electronically synthesized from that of a coloratura soprano and a countertenor for this movie (there being no more living castrati), nevertheless recognizes the composer's genius, and challenges both himself and his brother to make music that is deeper. In a very touching scene, Farinelli's brother, himself a composer, explains to
Händel how he began the composition of his opera Orpheus the day that Farinelli was castrated. In order to prove that he can sing music that is not built only of flourishes and trills, Farinelli sings
Händel's opera Rinaldo (1711) to great audience acclaim. Historically, this early opera was
Händel's first big success in England, and featured three alto castrati, with the title role being taken by the famous castrato Nicolini (Niccolò Grimaldi). The sets were elaborate, as they are in the film, including live sparrows placed in Almirena's grove. Nevertheless, in the next scene of the movie,
Händel confronts Farinelli backstage between acts, and claims that he has (emotionally) castrated him, so that he will never compose another opera. As Farinelli sings the last act, he behaves as if he is putting a curse on
Händel by aiming piercing looks and his voice from the stage toward the composer, who passes out in his opera box. During the music, there is also a brief but shocking flashback to the young boy in a bath of milk that is slowly becoming red with the blood from his mutilation. Emotions are deeply mixed, complex, and often wisely left ambiguous in this powerful film.
Händel's music is quoted in approximately 70 feature films, with the most prevalent reference being from his world-famous oratorio The Messiah (1742). Besides countless brief stabs of the "Hallelujah Chorus" in comic situations, selections from this work appear in the action-drama
Face/Off (1997),
Die xue shuang xiong (
Bloodshed of Two Heroes) (1989),
Heaven Help Us (1985) (aka
Catholic Boys),
Chassé-croisé (1981),
A Thousand Clowns (1965), and
Sissi (1955). Subtle uses of the composer's music are found in
Vatel (2000),
The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld (1999),
Handel's Last Chance (TV, 1996), The Sorceress (TV, 1993),
Orlando (1992),
Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and
The Great Mr. Handel (1942). ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, Rovi

- 2010
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The Wiener Staatsoper mounted this 2011 production of Georg Friedrich Händel's three-act opera seria Alcina (1735). The cast includes Anja Harteros in the title role, Vesselina Kasarova as Ruggiero, Veronica Cangemi as Morgana and Kristina Hammarström as Bradamante. Marc Minkowski conducts Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble, accomopanied by the dance troupe Wiener Staatsballett. Adrian Noble directs for the stage, Anthony Ward designed the sets and costumes, and Thomas Lang serves as chorus director and Sue Lefton choreographs. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Anja Harteros, Vesselina Kasarova, (more)

- 2009
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Wayne McGregor produced, directed and choreographed this 2009 version of Frideric Handel 's 1718 opera Acis and Galatea at London's Royal Opera House. It combines the ensembles of The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet onstage, with accompaniment by The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Galatea is sung by soprano Danielle de Niese and danced by Lauren Cuthbertson; Acis is sung by tenor Charles Workman and danced by Edward Watson; and Damon is sung by Paul Agnew and danced by Steven McRae and Melissa Hamilton. Christopher Hogwood conducts, with Stephen Westrop serving as chorus master of The Royal Opera Extra Chorus. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Danielle De Nises, Lauren Cuthbertson, (more)

- 2008
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This performance of Handel's Messiah featuring J. Robert Spencer, Lachanze, Mig Ayesa, and Keith Lockhart brings a new perspective to the piece, interpreting it with a modern, rock musical and instrumental approach. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
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- 2008
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George Friderich Handel's 1733 Orlando - a three-act opera seria - receives a lavish interpretation by the Zurich Opera in this 2008 production. Jens-Daniel Herzog directs for the stage and the Orchestra "La Scintilla" of the Zurich Opera, under the baton of William Christie, lends added musical accompaniment; Marijana Mijovic (as the title character), Martina Jankovic, Katharina Peetz and Christina Clark co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Marijana Mijanovic, Martina Jankova, (more)

- 2008
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- 2007
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- 2007
- R
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Notoriously nihilistic filmmaker Michael Haneke revisits one of his most controversial works in this remake of 1997's Funny Games starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth. When a family of three arrives at their remote summer cabin for a quiet getaway, the sudden arrival of two psychotic men sets the stage for a harrowing life-or-death struggle that offers savage commentary on the use of violence in entertainment. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, (more)

- 2007
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- 2005
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- 2004
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20th Century German composer Carl Orff's 1937 dramatic cantata Carmina Burana receives a New Year production from the Berlin Philharmonic in this classical release, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The program also features interpretations of Beethoven's Overture 'Leonore No. 3,' and George Friedric Handel's 'Hallelujah' Chorus, here arranged by Sir Eugene Gooseens. Simon Halsey serves as chorus master. Performing soloists include soprano Sally Matthews, tenor Lawrence Brownlee and baritone Christian Gerhaher. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Sally Matthews, Lawrence Brownlee, (more)

- 2002
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Two young women try to climb the corporate ladder using their feminine wiles in this erotic melodrama from French director Jean-Claude Brisseau. At the beginning of the film, Nathalie (Coralie Revel) and Sandrine (Sabrina Seyvecou) work in a strip club, where Nathalie wows the customers with her dancing while Sandrine tends bar. After a fight with their boss, both of them are tossed out late one night. Sandrine, a newcomer to Paris, is late paying her rent and can't go back to her apartment, so Nathalie invites her to move in with her. They become lovers, and after occupying themselves for awhile by behaving very naughtily in public, decide to conquer the working world with their powers of seduction. They both find jobs at a seemingly normal company and choose as their target a mild-mannered middle-aged bureaucrat named Delacroix (Roger Mirmont). But the company has some kinky secrets of its own, personified by the owner's son Christophe (Fabrice Deville), a decadent nihilist with a very close relationship with his sister, in whom the women might have met their match. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Coralie Revel, Sabrina Seyvecou, (more)

- 1993
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This ambience release constitutes one volume in a series of programs that juxtapose scenic onscreen environments, themed by country, with classical music representing the various nationalities on the soundtrack. This particular volume zeroes in on England, with a tour of some of Britain's most legendary royal residences including Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard and Leeds Castle - set to the music of classical composer George Frideric Handel, who ultimately settled in England. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- 1993
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This musical release captures a live performance by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge of George Frideric Handel's "Massiah HWV 56", recorded at Pieterskerk, Leiden in 1993. Soloists featured in the performance include Lynne Dawson, Hillary Summers, John Mark Ainsley, Alastair Miles, and Crispian Steele Perkins. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Lynne Dawson, Hilary Summers, (more)

- 1991
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- 1990
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- 1985
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George Frideric Handel's comic opera Agrippina interweaves a cat's cradle of political intrigues. The complicated story centers around the wildly manipulative Agrippina, wife of the Emperor of Rome, Claudio, and follows Agrippina's attempts to push her son, Nerone, onto the throne when his father is mistakenly thought dead. Agrippina stops at nothing to shove aside Nerone's competitors, even attempting to con several men into murdering each other. This release contains a film of the May 1985 stage production of Agrippina, shot at the Rokokotheater Schwetzingen, performed by the London Baroque and directed for the stage by Michael Hampe. Gunter von Kannen stars as Claudio, Barbara Daniels as Agrippina, David Kuebler as Nerone, and Janice Hall as Poppea. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- 1984
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This performance of the George Frideric Handel opera Julius Cesar by the English National Opera and Chorus under the conduction of Charles Mackerras features vocalists such as Janet Baker, Valerie Masterson, Sarah Walker, and Della Jones in the leading roles. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
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- 1984
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In this drama, a European businessman heads for Ghana where he plans to modernize the country by building a high-tech plastic furniture factory and by introducing them to computers. Once there, he finds the locals resistant to his imperialist notions of modernization. They oppose him at every turn, and eventually he comes to understand why. He then settles down and begins appreciating the local customs. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Peter Firth

- 1977
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The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the leadership of Eugene Ormandy, leads this rendition of Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade, Op. 35 (with accompaniment by violinist Norman Carol), plus additional interpretations of works by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, Richard Strauss, Mikhail Glinka and George Friedrich Handel. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Eugene Ormandy