Water Music that the Elector of Hanover approved of Handel's permanent move to London, knowing the separation between them would be temporary. Both were aware the Elector of Hanover would eventually succeed to the British throne after Queen Anne's death. Many portions of "Water Music" have become familiar in popular culture. From 1958 to 1988 this was featured as the theme music from the British network Anglia Television a brand by ITV. From 1977 to 1996, Walt Disney World featured movements from both installments of "Water Music" as the background music for the Electrical Water Pageant, a parade of sea creatures lit
The Merry Wives of Windsor (opera) was to become his masterpiece in the German language. The composer himself made some changes to the libretto. It was difficult at first to find a stage that was willing to mount the opera, but following the premiere at the Königliches Opernhaus (Royal Opera House, now Berlin State Opera) in Berlin on 9 March 1849 under the baton of the composer, it achieved great success and its popularity continues to this day. Though the libretto and the dramaturgy may seem old-fashioned to today's audiences, the music is of such high quality that the work is nevertheless performed with increasing regularity.