Water Music he could carry out gestures even grander than his son's. Legend has it that Handel composed "Water Music" to regain the favour of King George I. Handel had been employed by the future king George while he was still Elector of Hanover, before he succeeded to the British throne. The composer supposedly fell out of favour for moving to London during Queen Anne's reign. This story was first related by Handel's early biographer John Mainwaring; although it may have some foundation in fact, the tale as told by Mainwaring has been doubted by some Handel scholars. Another legend has it
2000 in British music charts selling albums. The major event of the classical music year was the launch of the Faenol Festival in North Wales by opera singer Bryn Terfel. The festival programme included popular music as well as classical and opera. In its first year, the festival performers included Michael Ball. The Proms season was notable for being the year in which Sir Andrew Davis ended his run as conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, subsequently to become musical director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Composer Peter Maxwell Davies spent the year as Artist in Residence at the Barossa Music Festival, and produced