'A triumphant success.'

'John Pascoe, through his excellent direction, reflected Handel's graceful music both in his stage direction, scenery and costumes.'

'Pascoe's production carries all before it in a wave of understated but totally convincing baroque opera at its best … Bringing the action forward to a time of living memory works well.'

'This double DVD features John Pascoe's beautifully directed and designed production.'

'This is good: Handel
without histrionics!'

'A sober and minimalist production that worked perfectly in the intimate Spoleto theatre.'

'Inexhaustible beauty.'

'The grey, neo-Gothic atmosphere of this slightly decaying royal palace makes the opera's dramatic flow even more exciting.'

'In her portrait neckline and upswept hair, Ginevra resembles Princess Margaret, society-page fodder long before Princess Diana.'

'Love, betrayal and keeping up appearances form the plot. So director John Pascoe set his production in the glamorous aesthetic of the British monarchy in 1956. The women (at least those playing women) are modelled on Princess Margaret, a worthy emblem of couture.'

'Pascoe's design emphasises 1950s glamour in a rich palette of black, white and grey, with chic tartan elements and handsome military uniforms, while cigarettes dangle from elegantly gloved hands.'

'John Pascoe provided the sets, costumes and production and successfully transferred the action to the mid-twentieth century, marking parallels between Ginevra and Princess Margaret. The two Acts are finely motivated and richly characterised with a fine use of space.'

'The sets are extremely effective. The lighting is very good – unobtrusive for the daylight scenes and suitably atmospheric for the night time, while the scenes Pascoe sets in silhouettes and tableaux are outstanding.'

'A magnificent production by Alan Curtis and John Pascoe of
Handel's Ariodante.'

'John Pascoe has created a sober and classic interpretation. I heartily recommend that you buy this DVD.'

'What is incontrovertible is that this is a very, very good DVD of a great Handel opera. If you need to expand your horizon and move into the baroque – or know someone who would like to do so – then you will be hard put to start with anything better.'

'After the acclaim obtained by his ironic and nude Ercole, the British director John Pascoe came back to Spoleto Festival to direct and design an original version of Handel's Ariodante. Once again he communicated something new.'

'Pascoe treated the story as a political power struggle, and in the final tableau those left on stage – even the requisite royal hound – all fight for the abandoned crown.'