Händel: The most beautiful arias

Treasures of Baroque opera: In early 18th-century London, Handel tried his hand as a composer of Italian opera, with varying success. Stunning triumphs solidified his fame as the leading composer of his era, while disastrous fiascos drove the ambitious opera impresario several times into financial ruin, causing him in the end to turn to the more popular English oratorio. Today his splendid works are among the most frequently performed Baroque operas in the world.