"Ariodante" was the first work composed by G. F. Handel for the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden / London after his contract with the King’s Theatre expired in 1734. The plot is based on Ariost’s "Orlando Furioso" (The Mad Roland). The epic, known throughout Europe from the mid-16th century, contains within the framework plot, the struggle of the Christians against the pagans, numerous independent episodes of traveling knights and their amours. One of these episodes tells of Ariodante and Ginevra. Their father, the Scottish king, is willing to give the knight Ariodante his daughter and the throne. However, knight Polinesso also claims Ginevra for himself....
"Ariodante" stands out from Handel’s operatic output for its combination of excellent and captivating music and a first-rate plot. Striking and catchy arias as well as great choruses and dances ignite a grandiose baroque firework on stage. The brilliant "happy ending" of this opera seria delights opera lovers all over the world. In addition to Handel, numerous Italian composers were taken with the famous poem - for example, no less than Antonio Vivaldi created his own version of "Ariodante" two years after Handel.