Handel's house restored for nation

The house is restored to how it was during Handel's lifetime

The house where George Frideric Handel lived and wrote some of his greatest works has become the first museum in London devoted to a composer.

The 18th Century building in Mayfair opened to the public on Thursday after extensive restoration to bring it back to way it was when inhabited by the composer.

Handel lived in the tall, narrow house in Brook Street for 36 years until his death in 1759, aged 74.

While living in the house he composed his celebrated Messiah oratorio, operas, concertos, the coronation anthems and music for the royal fireworks.

The house is owned by the Handel House Trust.

Handel lived in the house for 36 years

"Composers seem to be remarkably mobile. There are very few examples in music history of people staying in the same premises for more than a brief period, and almost none from the 18th Century," said trust president Stanley Sadie.

Visitors to Handel House will be able to wander through the main rooms of his house, most of which are quite small.

They can see Handel's bedroom and other rooms containing paintings, prints and memorabilia associated with him and his friends.

Jacqueline Riding, the museum's director, said: "It honours Handel and will promote knowledge of his contribution to British and international cultural life.

"We will have students and musicians rehearsing and practising his music."

Paintings

The trust's restorers worked from Handel's will and an inventory of the house made after his death.

Handel is thought to have had more than 80 paintings in the house when he lived there.

Handel House has been occupied by a number of businesses

To recreate the feel of this great collection, the trust borrowed paintings from the Queen and a number of UK museums.

The museum project cost £5.3m and was funded by more than 3,000 supporters, notably the National Lottery and the insurance company which owns the freehold.

After Handel's death the house became a boarding house, then shops and then an art dealer's offices.

Handel was born in Halle, Germany, in 1685, and there is a large museum dedicated to him on the site of his birthplace.

He settled in London in 1711, moving to Brook Street in 1723, aged 38. He remained there, unmarried until his death.