Opera in 3 acts; Also available for sale full score (BA4079) and performance material for hire.'Ariodante? was the first work which Handel composed for the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden after his contract with the King?s Theatre Haymarket ran out in mid-1734.?Ariodante? stands out amongst Handel?s opera works by means of its combination of excellent and challenging music coupled with a first-class plot. There is probably no other Handel opera which contains such a wealth of striking and catchy arias as are found in the first act of ? Ariodante ? alone. The three wide-ranging arias composed for thecastrato Carestini are amongst the greatest bravura pieces.The plot is based on an episode in Ariosto?s epic ? Orlando furioso ? (1516). The central event of the drama the trick with which Duke Polinesso convinces his commander Ariodante that Ginevra is unfaithful was also used by Shakespeare in ?Much Ado About Nothing?.The Vocal score is based on Donald Burrows? 2007 Urtext edition in the ?Halle Handel? Edition (Series II/32). It therefore reflects the latest in musicological research. Based on the Urtext of the Halle Handel EditionStraightforward and easy-to-play Piano reductionOriginal Italian text with German singing translation

Puccini's 'La Boheme' is based on Henri Murger's novel 'Scènes de la vie de bohème' which draws it's inspiration from the Bohemian lifestyle which was somewhat in vogue in Paris at the time. This Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa andLuigi Illica runs as follows:Rodolfo?s neighbour in his garret Mimi knocks at the door saying her candle has gone out on the stairs. Rodolfo and Mimi sit in the dark talking and fall for each other. They go to meetRodolfo?s friends. While there Marcello's former lover Musetta arrives with her new husband Alcindoro but distracting him falls into Marcello's arms. Some time later Mimì pours out her distress to Marcello over Rodolfo'sincessant jealousy Rodolfo is actually concerned about Mimi?s poor health and wants to part with her. On realising this the two decide to stay together until spring Marcello and Musetta meanwhile part when she isunfaithful.Some months later Rodolfo Marcello and friends are amusing themselves in the garret when Musetta bursts in saying Mimi is downstairs and has begged to be taken to her lover to die. She dies almost happily recalling their early love.