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George Frideric Handel was born in Halle, in Germany on February 23, 1685. He was the son of a barber-surgeon who wanted him to study law. At first he secretly practiced music, but after his father encouraged to allow him to study and he became a pupil of Zachow, the principal organist in Halle. At 18, G.F. Handel left for Hamburg. This is where he first gained true exposure to opera and ballet. He regularly performed on violin and conducted at nearby opera house, and before he left for Italy in 19706, composed his first two operas. Handel spent the period between 1706 and 1710 in Italy. There he continued with opera and composed his first two oratorios. He gained the identification of royals and other famous people and upon his return to Germany at age 25, held an important standing a