Ariodante (Concert version)

Teatro Real, Main Auditorium, Madrid, Spain

Scene 4 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 2

Scene 1 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 3

Scene 2 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 4

Scene 3 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 5

Scene 5 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 6

Scene 6 from the opera "Ariodante", photo 7

All photos (7)

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7 PM

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US$ 108

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Important Info

Type: Opera in Concert

City: Madrid, Spain

Starts at: 19:00

Acts: 3

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

Cast

Performers

Mezzo-Soprano: Magdalena Kožená (Ariodante)

Conductor: Andrea Marcon

Countertenor: Christophe Dumaux (Polinesso)

Tenor: Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (Lurcanio)

Soprano: Erika Baikoff (Ginevra)

Bass: José Antonio López (Rè di Scozia (King of Scotland))

Orchestra: La Cetra Barockorchester Basel

Soprano: Shira Patchornik (Dalinda)

Creators

Composer: George Frideric Handel

Librettist: Antonio Salvi

Overview

One of the treasures of the opera repertoire, and also one of Handel's most delicate works, returns to the Teatro Real with La Cetra Barockorchester.

Inspired by the epic poem Orlando Furioso, by Ludovico Ariosto, its score includes some of the most difficult da capo arias of the German composer’s to perform.

Ginevra, the daughter of the King of Scotland, is courted by Polinesso, but she is in love with Ariodante and has become engaged to him. Polinesso, seeking revenge on Ariodante, takes advantage of the unrequited love felt him by Dalinda, Ginevra's maid, convincing her to dress in Ginevra's clothes and let him into the royal quarters. Ariodante goes to his rendezvous with Ginevra that night and is so devastated by what he sees that he throws himself off a cliff into the sea. Ariodante's brother, Lurcanio, has secretly witnessed the scene and tells everything to the king, who condemns his daughter to death for faithlessness. But Ariodante has not died and he meets Dalinda in the forest. Disillusioned with Polinesso, she decides to tell him about the deception he has plotted. To defend Ariodante's honour, Lurcanio challenges Polinesso to a duel and kills him. Ariodante appears to save Ginevra from death and clarify everything before the king.

History

Premiere of this production: 18 January 1735, Covent Garden Theatre, London

Ariodante is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The anonymous Italian libretto was based on a work by Antonio Salvi, which in turn was adapted from Canti 4, 5 and 6 of Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. Each act contains opportunities for dance, originally composed for dancer Marie Sallé and her company.

Synopsis

Medieval Scotland. Ginevra, daughter of the King, is in love with and betrothed to Prince Ariodante. She rejects the amorous advances of the Duke of Albany, Polinesso, who then cruelly tricks Ariodante and Ginevra's father into believing that Ginevra has been unfaithful. Ariodante attempts suicide and Ginevra is condemned, but after a challenge to a duel by Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother, the dying Polinesso admits his plot and the lovers are reunited.

Act 1

Princess Ginevra, in front of her mirror, is adorning herself to make herself beautiful for her beloved. (Aria:Vezze, lusinghe). Polinesso, Duke of Albany, bursts into the room and, thinking that having the king's daughter as his sweetheart would advance his prospects, declares his love for her. Ginevra indignantly rejects him (Aria:Orrida a gl'occhi miei) and leaves. Dalinda, who is secretly in love with Polinesso, advises him that his rival is Prince Ariodante but also advises him that all he has to do is open his eyes to see someone else who loves him (Aria:Apri le luci). Left alone, Polinesso can see that Dalinda is in love with him and plans to use her to thwart his rival and win Ginevra for himself (Aria: Coperta la frode).

The royal gardens

Ariodante sings of how all nature speaks to him of love (Aria:Quì d'amor). Ginevra joins him and they pledge their love (Duet: Prendi, prendi da questa mano). The King joins the lovers, gives them his blessing, and orders his courtier Odoardo to make the preparations for the wedding (Aria: Voli colla sua tromba). Alone, Ariodante swears to be faithful to Ginevra (Aria:Con l'ali di costanza). Polinesso hatches his plot – he tells Dalinda that if she will dress as Ginevra that evening and invite him into her apartments, he will be hers (Aria:Spero per voi). Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother, then appears to Dalinda and declares his love for her (Aria:Del mio sol vezzosi rai) but she has totally lost her heart to Polinesso (Aria:Il primo ardor).

A delightful valley

Ariodante and Ginevra enjoy the beauties of nature and each other's company (Duet: Se rinasce nel mio cor). They are joined by shepherds and shepherdesses (Duet with chorus:Si godete al vostro amor) who dance to entertain them (Ballet).

Act 2

Polinesso and Ariodante meet; Polinesso feigns astonishment when Ariodante tells him he is betrothed to Ginevra, insisting that Ginevra loves him. Ariodante refuses to believe it. This is all being observed by Lurcanio, who is hidden. Polinesso tells Ariodante to watch as "Ginevra", really Dalinda wearing Ginevra's clothes, admits Polinesso into her bedroom for the night. Ariodante is in despair and wants to die (Aria:Tu preparati a morire) but Lurcanio comes from the shadows and advises Ariodante to live, and seek revenge (Aria:Tu vivi). Ariodante sadly bewails his beloved's (supposed) infidelity (Aria:Scherza infida). As day breaks, Polinesso and Dalinda emerge from the palace. Polinesso promises he will reward her, to her delight (Aria:Se tanto piace al cor) and, alone, Polinesso exults in how well his plot is proceeding (Aria:Se l'inganno).

A gallery in the palace

As the King is making the final arrangements for his daughter's wedding, the courtier Odoardo brings him bad news – Ariodante has been seen committing suicide by leaping into the sea. The King is heartbroken (Aria:Invida sorte avara). Ginevra appears, having a premonition of some approaching calamity (Aria:Mi palpita il core). When her father gives her the terrible news, she swoons and is carried away. Lurcanio now appears before the King, who attempts to comfort him on the loss of his brother. The furious Lurcanio, however, hands the King a letter telling him he saw Ginevra admit Polinesso into her bedroom for the night, which caused his brother to kill himself, and Lurcanio now is bent on revenge (Aria:Il tuo sangue). The King disowns his daughter and condemns her as a harlot. When Ginevra hears this, she collapses into delirium (Aria:Il mio crudel martoro) and all Dalinda's attempts to console her fail. Ginevra falls into a fitful, disturbed sleep (Ballet of Good and Bad Dreams). She awakes in distress (Recitativo accompagnato:Che vidi? oh Dei! misera me!)

Act 3

A wood near the sea

Ariodante survived, and he now bitterly rebukes the gods for condemning him to live (Arioso:Numi! lasciarmi vivere). Hearing cries, Ariodante finds Dalinda, who is being held by thugs hired by Polinesso, with orders to kill her, as she is the only witness to his plot to discredit Ginevra. Ariodante drives Polinesso's henchmen away, and Dalinda reveals the truth to him – it was she, disguised as Ginevra, who let Polinesso into her bedroom. Ariodante rails against the treachery that caused him to doubt his beloved (Aria:Cieca notte). Alone, Dalinda expresses her remorse (Aria:Neghittosi or voi che fate?).

The royal gardens

The King announces that he will never see his daughter again unless a champion appears to defend her honour. Polinesso steps forward and offers to challenge Lurcanio to a duel (Aria:Dover, giustizia, amor). Ginevra, condemned to death for sexual irregularity, appears before her father begging to be allowed to kiss his hand (Aria:Io ti bacio). Her father clasps her to her bosom, saying that a champion has appeared to defend her – Polinesso. She does not like this idea, but he insists (Aria:Al sen ti stringo e parto). Ginevra prefers death to the loss of her honour (Aria:Sì, morrò). Lurcanio again offers his love to Dalinda, and she indicates that she is now inclined to accept it (Duet: Dite spera, e son contento).

The duelling ground, the King on his throne

Polinesso and Lurcanio fight, Lurcanio mortally wounds Polinesso who is carried away by Odaordo. A new champion appears with his visor down. He reveals himself as Ariodante, to the astonishment of all, and declares Ginevra innocent. Dalinda admits her part in the plot. Odoardo returns with the news that Polinesso, as he died, also admitted his guilt. The King pardons Dalinda and goes to find his daughter. Ariodante jubilantly hails a new bright day dawning after nights of darkness (Aria:Dopo notte).

The room where Ginevra is imprisoned

Ginevra looks death in the face (Arioso:Manca, oh Dei!). But her father and the others appear and declare her vindicated. She is reunited with her beloved Ariodante (Duet:Bramo aver mille vite).

The great hall of the palace. A large staircase supported by columns; on the upper part of the stairs musicians playing wind instruments. The King, Lords and Ladies descend the staircase. He begins the chorus, as the Lords and Ladies dance.

Ogn'uno acclami bella virtute (Chorus) ... Ballo (Gavotte—Rondeau—Bourrée) ... Sa trionfar ognor virtute in ogni cor (Chorus).

Venue Info

Teatro Real - Madrid
Isabel II Square, s / n.

Teatro Real is a major opera house located in Madrid. Today the Teatro Real opera is one of the great theaters of Europe hosting large productions involving leading international figures in opera singing, musical direction, stage direction, and dance. Founded in 1818 and inaugurated on 19 November 1850, it closed in 1925 and reopened in 1966. Beginning in 1988 it underwent major refurbishing and renovation works and finally reopened in 1997 with a capacity of 1,746 seats. The theater offers visitors guided tours in several languages, including the auditorium, stage, workshops, and rehearsal rooms.

Founded by King Ferdinand VII in 1818, and after thirty-two years of planning and construction, a Royal Order on 7 May 1850 decreed the immediate completion of the "Teatro de Oriente" and the building works were finished within five months. The Opera House, located just in front of the Palacio Real, the official residence of the Queen who ordered the construction of the theatre, Isabel II, was finally inaugurated on 19 November 1850, with Donizetti's La Favorite.

The Teatro soon became one of the most prestigious opera houses in Europe. For over five decades it hosted the most renowned singers and composers of the time. In the early period, it saw famous opera singers such as Alboni, Frezzolini, Marietta Gazzaniga, Rosina Penco, Giulia Grisi, Giorgio Ronconi, Italo Gardoni, Mario de Candia and Antonio Selva among many others. In 1863, Giuseppe Verdi visited the theatre for the Spanish premiere of his La Forza del Destino. At its peak, in the last quarter of the 19th century, the Teatro hosted world renowned artists such as Adela Borghi, Marie Sasse, Adelina Patti, Christina Nilsson, Luisa Tetrazzini, Mattia Battistini, Julián Gayarre, Angelo Masini, Francesco Tamagno and Enrico Tamberlick. In 1925, the Ballets Russes of Diaghilev performed in the theatre with the presence of Nijinsky and Stravinsky.

From 1867 to 1925 the Teatro Real also housed the Madrid Royal Conservatory. In December of 1925 a Royal Order ordered its activities to be discontinued owing to the damage that the construction of the Metro de Madrid had caused to the building. The government set out to restore it and ordered numerous projects to be drawn out for its renovation, such as that from architect Urdanpilleta Flórez, who proposed a monumental remodeling of the building. However, financial difficulties prevented the completion of these projects and led to a simple restoration, sponsored by the Juan March Institute, and carried out first by the architect Manuel Gonzalez Valcárcel, and later by architects Miguel Verdú Belmonte and Francisco Rodriguez Partearroyo.

The theatre reopened in 1966 as a concert hall as well as the main concert venue for the Spanish National Orchestra and the RTVE Symphony Orchestra. The reopening was celebrated with a concert of the Spanish National Orchestra conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and the Orfeón Donostiarra. In 1969, the 14th Eurovision Song Contest was held at the theatre, featuring an onstage metal sculpture created by surrealist Spanish artist Salvador Dalí.

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Type: Opera in Concert

City: Madrid, Spain

Starts at: 19:00

Acts: 3

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