Scottish Opera

Building on the success of their beautifully-observed 2011 production of Orlando, director Harry Fehr and designer Yannis Thavoris return to offer a fresh perspective on the second of Handel’s Orlando furioso trilogy. Their gift for storytelling and trademark attention to detail bring to life a simple yet powerful fable of innocence maligned.

Ariodante, tricked by his rival Polinesso into believing that his future wife Ginevra has been unfaithful, flees. Believing Ariodante dead, disowned by her father the King, and at the mercy of Polinesso, Ginevra’s mind starts to unravel. As allegiances change, secrets come to light, and a deadly fight for the love of Ginevra ensues. Can anyone really win in this high-stakes game of love, betrayal and deceit?

Regarded by many as one of his greatest operatic achievements, Handel’s beautiful music echoes the characters’ emotions – rage, despair and ultimately jubilation – through a series of wonderful arias.

Australian mezzo-soprano Caitlin Hulcup (Orfeo ed Euridice 2015) sings Ariodante, Sarah Tynan, recently named Best Female in an Opera Production at the Wales Theatre Awards, is Ginevra, and countertenor Xavier Sabata sings Polinesso. Nicholas Kraemer conducts.