It's difficult to answer why musician and composer Pietro Giuseppe Sandoni was drawn to England around 1715 since he was already well-established in his hometown of Bologna, having had a successful career at a young age. However, in 1719, Georg Friedrich Händel hired him for his newly founded opera company, the Royal Academy of Music, where he not only performed as a harpsichordist but also played a crucial role in engaging Italian singers. In 1722, Händel sent him to Venice to accompany Francesca Cuzzoni, the new prima donna, to London. This task would fundamentally change Sandoni's life. The harpsichordist and the singer became so close during their weeks-long journey in cramped carriages and uncomfortable inns that, upon their arrival in London, a false rumor spread that they had married on the way. In fact, the two developed into an inseparable duo, with one shining in the spotlight on concert and opera stages while the other enjoyed the benefits of her glory in the shadows. Sandoni occasionally showcased his own compositions to highlight his skills. In our concert with the Basel-based ensemble La Floridiana, Francesca Aspromonte takes on the role of Cuzzoni. The young, versatile soprano with her typical mix of crystalline and fiery timbre thrilled audiences in the title role of Hasse's serenata «Semele» at the Innsbruck Festival in 2018. She was celebrated by the press as the «new star in the baroque sky.»