Ariodante to Tour The Capital

Published on 3 July 2009 by Nathan Brooker

A new production of Handel's opera Ariodante is to play at selected venues in London this summer.

Beginning its tour on 14 July at Lauderdale House in Highgate, Ariodante will then play at St Lawrence's Church in Little Stanmore and St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Harrow before finishing up on 18 July at Rosslyn Hill Chapel in Hampstead.

Ariodante was first performed in 1735 at Covent Garden and is generally considered to be among the composer's finest works.

Staged by the Scarlet Opera company, producers are keen to point out that the acting in the performances will be every bit as important to the production as the singing. Formed by Jodie Kearns and Siobhan Blake, Scarlet Opera lay down their aims, by way of a manifesto, on their website.

They say: "We want to produce high-quality opera in which acting and drama are every bit as vital as the music, and given as much work and consideration in all stages of rehearsal, production and performance."

The cast of Ariodante will feature founders Jodie Kearns and Siobhan Blake as Ariodante and Ginevra, Ian Wilson-Pope as The King of Scotland and Camillia Bull as Polinesso.

For more information about Ariodante, log on to the Scarlet Opera website, www.scarletopera.com