George Frideric Handel exhibition marking the tercentenary of the composer's birth calls them two men of the late eighteenth century "who have left us solid evidence of the means by which they indulged their enthusiasm". With his English oratorios, such as "Messiah" and "Solomon", the coronation anthems, and other works including "Water Music" and "Music for the Royal Fireworks", Handel became a national icon in Britain, and featured in the BBC series, "The Birth of British Music: Handel – The Conquering Hero". After his death, Handel's Italian operas fell into obscurity, except for selections such as the aria from "Serse", "Ombra mai fù".
2003 in British music 2003 in British music This is a summary of 2003 in music in the United Kingdom. Both Andrew Glover and Peter Maxwell Davies produced several new orchestral/instrumental works. British film score composer Rachel Portman produced an opera, "The Little Prince", commissioned by the Houston Opera and premièred in the USA. Michael Nyman, during his period as Composer-in-Residence at Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Germany, produced his "Violin Concerto" and an opera "", with libretto by Michael Hastings. It was premièred at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe in the following year. The 2003 BRIT Awards winners were: The winners of the Ivor Novello