Werk: Serse (Xerxes)

George Frideric Handel was quite the cosmopolitan composer, travelling from Germany to Italy and London, where he eventually settled, becoming a naturalised British citizen and court composer for the big ceremonial occasions. 

From emperors and empresses to nymphs, gods and giants by way of faithful wives, sorceresses, knights, dastardly noblemen and dazzling coloratura arias, here's your guide to the master showman of Baroque opera.