Famous Composers: The Life and Work of George Friderick Handel - DVD

Joseph Haydn was born into a poor family in 18th century Hungary. His huge musical talent brought him into the service of a Prince. Eventually his work was recognised throughout the musical world. The film by Malcolm Hossick describes his fascinating life and the social change he went through. It is followed by a brief overview of his work. Joseph Haydn was born into a simple rural community where his father worked for the local landowner. Joseph's musical talents developed in local church choirs and his fine voice took him to the choir of St Stephen's in Vienna. We follow his career into the the employment of the Esterhazy family where he remained until he was sixty. His international fame as a composer brought him an invitation to London where his career was reborn. The video ends with a brief overview of Haydn's work useful to experienced music lovers and and newcomers alike. On the soundtrack some of his most characteristic compositions are played by members of the Elysium ensemble.

Johann Sebastian Bach is now reckoned to be one of the great masters of music. He was not a great innovator but built upon the developments of harmony which had begun with the occurance of the renaissance of learning and an understanding of the world in scientific terms in the centuries before him. He was an astonishingly gifted musician and his life was a tortured journey of success and drawbacks. This film by Malcolm Hossick explores how he worked and lived and assesses the contribution he made to music. It is followed by a brief overview of his huge output. Bach was born in Germany into a talented musical family. His astonishing musical gifts showed at an early age and by his late teens he was organist at the local church and soon moving on to positions in the many small Princely courts which made up Germany at the time. In the German musical world he quickly gained a reputation as a master organist and composer. It was not until almost a century after his death that his greatness was fully recognised outside Germany. This film by Malcolm Hossick traces his life and work and ends with an overview of his music.

Puccini was born in Lucca in Italy to a musical family and went on to write some of the best loved operas of all time. This film by Malcolm Hossick traces his interesting life and is followed by an overview of his work. Born in the beautiful old Tuscan city of Lucca in 1858 you could argue Puccini was destined to be a composer. For generations his family had been at the centre of musical life in the city. Few could have prophesied the phenomenal success he enjoyed in his day and his works are still as popular as ever. This film by Malcolm Hossick film traces his interesting and eventful life and is followed by an overview of his work.