Gustavus Waltz

Basing himself in England from 1732, he collaborated with Handel from 1733 when he appeared in La Semiramide riconosciuta, an opera pasticcio.

[citation needed] Waltz created roles in the oratorio Athalia (1733); and in the operas Arianna in Creta (1734), Ariodante (1735), Alcina (1735), and Atalanta (1736).

Some sources state that in addition to his musical activities, he worked for Handel as a cook, perhaps before gaining recognition as a singer.

There is an anecdote about Handel's opinion of a fellow composer, his younger contemporary Gluck, which refers to Waltz as a cook.

Given that Waltz was an excellent singer who performed in many of Handel's works, the remark would have been less of a put down than it might appear.