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 The
choir trembled when he took the podium. His rendering of
music, of the world's greatest composers, left audiences
dumbstruck. He was an exceptionally talented pianist,
organist, conductor, composer and accompanist. We are
talking genius. A genius who is no longer with us. A genius
who made Classical Music popular to this part of the world
and who put Chennai on the world's music map. A genius who
lives on through his work. The conductor par excellence -
Handel Manuel.
Handel Manuel was born in Tuticorin on April 27th, 1918.
Named after the famous composer
G.F. Handel, not even his music-loving parents could fathom
the great heights to which their son would rise. Handel was
educated at the Madras Christian College, but not in Music.
In fact he is one of the few composers in the world who can
boast of being self-taught. He dedicated his life to music.
And being a stickler for perfection saw him reach the
pinnacle of success and greatness. He is the only Indian to
be invited to the Tchaikovsky International Music
Competition held in Moscow. He was appointed Producer,
Emeritus, All India Radio. He was awarded the Padmashri in
1983. He was also awarded the 'For The Sake of Honour'
award from Rotary. He is one of the chosen few who figures
in the listing of the 'International Who's Who in Music'.
Church music was his first love. He was elected Honorary
Life Member of the Royal School of Church Music, London. He
was also recognised as India's best pianist. Alan Hovhaness,
the famous American composer, dedicated two pieces to
Handel - the "Arjuna Symphony" and an Organ Sonata.
Probably the best tribute comes from Rita Saldanha, his
famous student, who professes that with Handel "It was
always a labour of love, never of work."
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