George Frideric Handel

Händel is the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel on his grave.

I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God himself.

You have taken far too much trouble over your opera. Here in England that is mere waste of time. What the English like is something that they can beat time to, something that hits them straight on the drum of the ear.

Händel is the greatest and ablest of all composers; from him I can still learn.

His hallelujahs open the heavens. He utters the word "Wonderful," as if all their trumpets spoke together. And then, when he comes to earth, to make love amidst nymphs and shepherds (for the beauties of all religions found room within his breast), his strains drop milk and honey, and his love is the youthfulness of the Golden Age.

Every Englishman believes that Handel now occupies an important position in heaven. If so, le bon Dieu must feel toward him very much as Louis Treize felt toward Richelieu.

Whether I was in my body or out of my body I know not. God knows it!

This man is the master of us all.

Handel is so great and so simple that no one but a professional musician is unable to understand him.

Handel paralysed music in England for generations and they have not yet quite got over him.

I should be sorry if I only entertained them, I wish to make them better.

Händel is the unrivalled master of all masters. Go and learn from him how to achieve vast effects with simple means.