Ariodante, HWV 33

Written in 1735, Handel’s Ariodante comes from an extraordinarily fertile turning point in his composing life. Although he had just begun to write oratorios in English, having seen the immense potential in this relatively new art form, he was still involved in what had become the combative business of writing operas in Italian for the London stage. Ariodante was his first opera for Covent Garden, after decades of writing for the theatre in the Haymarket where a rival company was now presenting the world’s greatest singers. But this brilliant opposition brought out the best in Handel’s fierce competitive spirit: Ariodante and its successor Alcina represent a great peak in his operatic career. The story, very similar to that of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, tells of Ariodante being tricked by Polinesso into believing his betrothed Ginevra is unfaithful to him. The political and emotional consequences give Handel the greatest scope for dazzling music and dramatic invention, which he unerringly supplies. Royal Academy Opera welcomes the internationally renowned director Paul Curran to stage this new production, conducted by the Academy’s Director of Opera, Jane Glover.

Tickets £25 (concessions £20, Academy students and staff £5) from the Royal Academy of Music Box Office