from Act III of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Ariodante, a prince, engaged to Ginevra, brother of Lurcanio

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: countertenor|lyric tenor

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland

Synopsis: Polinesso is killed by Lurcanio in a duel but before he dies, he confesses that he tricked everyone into thinking that Ginevra had been unfaithful to Ariodante. With this evidence, Ginevra's death sentence is lifted and Ariodante rejoices.

from Act II of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Ariodante, a prince, engaged to Ginevra, brother of Lurcanio

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: countertenor|lyric tenor

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland at night

Synopsis: Polinesso tries to convince Ariodante that Ginevra does not favor Ariodante and instead is in love with him. Ariodante doesn't believe him. However, Ariodante then sees Dalinda coming out of the private apartments of Polinesso disguised as his love, Ginevra. Despairing, he attempts suicide but is stopped by his brother Lurcanio. Ariodante then sings of his unhappiness and despair.

from Act II of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Ariodante, a prince, engaged to Ginevra, brother of Lurcanio

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: countertenor|lyric tenor

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland at night

Synopsis: Polinesso tries to convince Ariodante that Ginevra does not favor Ariodante and instead is in love with him. Ariodante doesn't believe him and challenges him to prove it or face the consequences

from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Dalinda, a lady of the court, Ginevra's friend

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland

Synopsis: After Polinesso professes his love to her, Ginevra tells him in no uncertain terms that his love is not returned. However, Dalinda tells Polinesso that, while Ginevra may not want him, Dalinda certainly does.

from Act III of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Dalinda, a lady of the court, Ginevra's friend

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland

Synopsis: Dalinda and Ariodante meet and compare notes about the betrayal of Ariodante's love by Ginevra and realize that Polinesso was lying to them all. Ginevra was never unfaithful to Ariodante and therefore, the only one to blame is Polinesso. After Ariodante leaves her alone, Dalinda inveighs against Polinesso and his scheming.

from Act II of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Ginevra, daughter of the King of Scotland, engaged to Ariodante

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland at night

Synopsis: Ginevra is told falsely that her love, Ariodante, has drowned himself in the ocean. She is then accused of driving him to it by betraying him with Polinesso. Overwhelmed by it all, she goes insane, singing about death.

from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: Ginevra, daughter of the King of Scotland, engaged to Ariodante

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland

Synopsis: Ginevra is happily in love for Ariodante. However, Polinesso enters and exclaims his love for her. Ginevra tells him that he has no chance with her.

from Act III of the Italian opera Ariodante by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Antonio Salvi

Role: King of Scotland, father of Ginevra

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: the palace of the King of Scotland

Synopsis: Before the duel between Lurcanio and Polinesso that is to decide the fate of Ginevra, who has been accused of being unfaithful to her fiancee Ariodante, the King tells his daughter that his heart forgives her even if he cannot stay her punishment.