by Carrodus Taylor

Ariosti in early manhood was a Dominican friar, but he gave up that profession for. music and wrote his first opera, Dafne, which was brought out at Venice in 1686; Ariosti was then twenty-six. Thereafter his operas. which he continued to write for another forty years, had a good deal of success, both in Italy and later in England, where with Handel and Bononcini he became joint-musical director at the Royal Academy of Music founded in 1720. Ariosti was a notable performer on the viola d'amore and wrote music for this instrument. This Sonata originally written for the viola d'amore, was arranged by Piatti for the 'cello. In his day Ariosti was considered a composer of merit, although in England he had to compete with Handel and Bononcini - though on friendly terms, it is true, for it is recorded that he, Handel and Bononcini each contributed an act to an opera called Musio Scovola, which was performed at the Royal Academy - but only very occasionally does his name now appear in the programmes.