George Frideric Handel by Balthasar Denner

''Semele'' ( HWV 58) is a 'musical drama', originally presented "after the manner of an

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...

", in three parts by

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

. Based on an existing opera

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

William Congreve William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration period. He is known for his clever, satirical dialogue and influence on the comedy of manners style of that period. He was also a mi ...

, the work is an opera in all but name but was first presented in concert form at

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist si ...

theatre on 10 February 1744. The story comes from Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'' and concerns

Semele Semele (; Ancient Greek: Σεμέλη ), in Greek mythology, was the youngest daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia (Greek goddess), Harmonia, and the mother of Dionysus by Zeus in one of his many origin myths. Certain elements of the cult of Dionysu ...

, mother of

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; grc, wikt:Διόνυσος, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstas ...

. Handel also referred to the work as 'The Story of Semele'. The work contains the famous aria ''Where'er you walk.'' The work fuses elements of opera, oratorio and classical drama. ''Semele'' was presented during

Lent Lent ( la, Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke ...

, one of Handel's regular oratorio seasons. However it was not what London audiences were expecting of an oratorio during the solemn season of Lent. ''Semele'' has a secular text with a story involving an adulterous sexual relationship. It is distinguished from Handel's operas by the large number of

polyphonic Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, h ...

choruses. ''Semele'' was performed four times during its original run, and twice again later the same year, but those were the only performances in Handel's lifetime. Today ''Semele'' is frequently fully staged and receives regular performances at many of the world's opera houses, as well as performances in concert form.

Background

Handel's last Italian opera, '' Deidamia'', was performed in 1741. After this time, he concentrated on oratorio and musical dramas with English texts. Many of these, including ''Semele'', were premiered at the Covent Garden Theatre, beginning with '' Alexander's Feast'' in 1736 and finishing with ''

The Triumph of Time and Truth ''The Triumph of Time and Truth'' is the final name of an oratorio by George Frideric Handel produced in three different versions across fifty years of the composer’s career: ''Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (The Triumph of Time and Disil ...

'' in 1757. As a result, in the early 1740s,

s at the Covent Garden Theatre were

's chief activity. While most works had sacred or religious texts, two stand out for being secular: ''

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

'' and ''Semele''. The libretto was written by

around 1705–6 and originally set to music in John Eccles's opera ''

''. Handel's text was adapted by an unknown collaborator and he wrote the music in just over a month, from 3 June to 4 July 1743. ''Semele'' contains self-borrowings from ''

Giulio Cesare ''Giulio Cesare in Egitto'' (; , HWV 17), commonly known as ''Giulio Cesare'', is a dramma per musica ('' opera seria'') in three acts composed by George Frideric Handel for the Royal Academy of Music in 1724. The libretto was written by Nic ...

'' and ''Fra pensieri qual pensiero'' (HWV 115), as well as borrowings from

Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan school of opera. ...

(notably ''

Il Pompeo ''Il Pompeo'' is a dramma per musica in three acts by composer Alessandro Scarlatti. Written in 1682 when Scarlatti was 22 years old, it was his fourth opera and first dramatic work on a serious and grand subject. The opera uses an Italian languag ...

''), Porta, Keiser and

Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hilde ...

. Noteworthy in the score are the number and quality of accompanied

recitatives Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat ...

(a characteristic it shares with ''Il Pompeo''), and the sheer variety of style and tempo markings (23, with nine unique in English works). The musical drama takes a similar shape to an opera, but Handel eyed a place for it on the Covent Garden Theatre's oratorio-centered

en season of public concerts the following February (1744). So he fashioned ''Semele'' for presentation in the manner of an oratorio — a wolf in sheep's clothing to those not already enlightened to Ovid's Metamorphoses. His ploy to bring a powerful story to the theatre met, perhaps predictably, with mixed reactions. Mrs Delany called it a 'delightful piece of music', but commented, Semele'' has a strong party against it, viz. the fine ladies, petit maitres, and ''ignoramuses''. All the opera people are enraged at Handel.' This probably related to the supporters of the rival Middlesex Opera Company, for whom Handel would not write. Harsh criticism is also known from Messiah-librettist Charles Jennens who recorded it was 'a baudy Opera'. The questionable morals of whether ''Semele'' was 'profane' and so perhaps not suitable for decent members of the audience meant that the work quickly fell from the repertoire, only being revived once by Handel. However, ''Semele'' remains a work of high quality. As the late Lord Harewood put it:

the music of ''Semele'' is so full of variety, the recitative so expressive, the orchestration so inventive, the characterization so apt, the general level of invention so high, the action so full of credible situation and incident—in a word, the piece as a whole is so suited to the operatic stage—that one can only suppose its neglect to have been due to an act of abnegation on the part of opera companies.

Performance history

''Semele'' was first performed on 10 February 1744 at the Covent Garden Theatre, London, as part of a concert series held yearly during Lent. The audience naturally expected Bible-based subject matter. But the amorous topic of ''Semele'', which is a creation of the late Restoration Period, transparently drew on Greek myths, and so it displeased those attending for a different kind of uplift. Being in English, ''Semele'' likewise irritated the supporters of true Italian opera, particularly as Handel would also not write for the rival Middlesex Opera Company. Winton Dean writes in his book ''Handel's Dramatic Oratorios'': :"The public n 1744found 'Semele's''tone too close to that of the discredited Italian opera and set it down as an oratorio ''manqué''; where they expected wholesome Lenten bread, they received a glittering stone dug from the ruins of

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...

." As a result, only four performances took place. The cast at the première included Elisabeth Duparc ('La Francesina') in the title role, Esther Young as Juno (and Ino), and

John Beard John Beard may refer to: * John Beard (artist) (born 1943), Welsh artist and painter * John Beard (colonial administrator) (died 1685), Chief Agent and Governor of Bengal * John Beard (embryologist) (1858–1924), Scottish embryologist and anatomi ...

as Jupiter.

Henry Reinhold Henry Reinhold (c. 1690 – 1751), also known as Thomas Reinhold, was a German opera singer. He was born in Dresden and showed an early aptitude for music, which his family apparently discouraged. But he secretly left Dresden to follow Handel, ...

sang the bass roles. Handel seems to have interchanged some of the music between singers. Later, on 1 and 8 December 1744, Handel presented a revised version, this time at the King's Theatre, after cutting four sections of dialogue containing sexual innuendo and making additions that included interspersed arias in Italian (for the opera crowd) from Arminio and Giustino. 20th century ''Semele'' fell into prolonged neglect until its first stage performances, in Cambridge, England, in 1925 and in London in 1954. These fueled an enthusiasm for the work that has not since lapsed. ''Semele'' was staged on four occasions (1959, 1961, 1964 and 1975) by the Handel Opera Society under Charles Farncombe, and it entered the repertory of the Sadler's Wells Opera (now English National Opera) in 1970. The opera returned in 1982—after a 238-year hiatus—to Covent Garden (the

Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...

), with

Valerie Masterson Margaret Valerie Masterson (born 3 June 1937), is a retired English opera singer, a lecturer and Vice-President of British Youth Opera. After study in Italy, she began to sing opera in Europe. Returning to England, Masterson performed as princ ...

in the title role and conducted, as at Sadler's Wells, by

Charles Mackerras Mackerras in 2005 Sir Alan Charles MacLaurin Mackerras (; 1925 2010) was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. He was long associated with the Eng ...

. The American stage première took place at the

Ravinia Festival Ravinia Festival is an outdoor music venue in Highland Park, Illinois. It hosts a series of outdoor concerts and performances every summer from June to September. The first orchestra to perform at Ravinia Festival was the New York Philharmonic unde ...

near Chicago in 1959. ''Semele'' was performed in Washington, DC, in 1980, and at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

, New York, in 1985, on the latter occasion with

Kathleen Battle Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances ...

in the title role and John Nelson conducting. (A recording with a similar cast was made in 1990 and issued on the Deutsche Grammophon label.) In 1999,
Semele
' returned to the

English National Opera English National Opera (ENO) is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with The Royal Opera. ENO's productions are sung in English ...

in London in a highly regarded production by

Robert Carsen Robert Carsen O.C. (born 23 June 1954) is a Canadian opera director. He was born in Toronto and is the son of philanthropist Walter Carsen. Early steps towards directing From an early age "I became obsessed with the theatre" Carsen states and he w ...

Rosemary Joshua Rosemary Joshua (born 16 October 1964) is a Welsh soprano, particularly known for her performances in Handel's operas. Joshua was born in Cardiff and studied at the Royal College of Music. After completing her studies there, she made her debut at ...

played Semele, John Mark-Ainsley was Jupiter, Susan Bickley as Juno, and

Sarah Connolly Dame Sarah Patricia Connolly (born 13 June 1963) is an English mezzo-soprano. Although best known for her Baroque music, baroque and Classical period (music), classical roles, Connolly has a wide-ranging repertoire which has included works by ...

the sister Ino. The production was revived in 2004 with Carolyn Sampson (Semele),

Ian Bostridge Ian Charles Bostridge CBE (born 25 December 1964) is an English tenor, well known for his performances as an opera and lieder singer. Early life and education Bostridge was born in London, the son of Leslie Bostridge and Lillian (née Clark). ...

(Jupiter) and Patricia Bardon (Juno). 21st century

Pinchgut Opera Pinchgut Opera is a chamber opera company in Sydney, Australia, presenting opera from the 17th and 18th centuries performed on period instruments. Founded in 2002, Pinchgut stages two operas each year in Sydney's City Recital Hall. It also perfor ...

staged a production in 2002 in the

City Recital Hall City Recital Hall in Sydney, Australia, is a purpose-built concert venue with the capacity for an audience of 1,238 people seated over three tiers of sloped seating. It is situated in the city centre in Angel Place, just off Martin Place. City ...

, Sydney, conducted by

Antony Walker General Sir Antony Kenneth Frederick Walker, (born 16 May 1934) is a former British Army officer who served as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies from 1990 to 1992. Military career Educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Walke ...

and directed by Justin Way. There is a

recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, ...

of this production. In 2004 a staged production directed by

David McVicar Sir David McVicar (born 1966) is a Scottish opera and theatre director. Biography McVicar was born in Glasgow in 1966. He studied as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1989. In 2007, ''The Independent'' ra ...

and conducted by Marc Minkowski opened at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. (This was revived in 2010 by conductor

Christophe Rousset Christophe Rousset (; born 12 April 1961) is a French harpsichordist and conductor, who specializes in the performance of Baroque music on period instruments. He is also a musicologist, particularly of opera and European music of the 17th and 18 ...

.) A new production opened at

New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, du ...

on 13 September 2006. Directed by Stephen Lawless, it made metaphorical references to

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

, U.S. presidents

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and

Jacqueline Kennedy Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis ( ; July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A po ...

Elizabeth Futral Susan Elizabeth Futral (born September 27, 1963 in Johnston County, North Carolina) is an American coloratura soprano who has won acclaim (as both singer and actress) throughout the United States as well as in Europe, South America, and Japan. E ...

sang Semele,

Vivica Genaux Vivica Genaux (; born July 10, 1969) is an American coloratura mezzo-soprano. She was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has sung in major operas such as ''The Barber of Seville'' at the Metropolitan Opera, ''L'italiana in Algeri'' at Opéra National ...

portrayed Juno (and Ino), and Robert Breault sang Jupiter. In 2007, Zurich Opera in Switzerland mounted Robert Carsen's 1999 production of ''Semele'' as a vehicle for

Cecilia Bartoli Cecilia Bartoli, Cavaliere OMRI (; born 4 June 1966) is an Italian coloratura mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist. She is best known for her interpretations of the music of Bellini, Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Vivaldi, as well as for her ...

, with Birgit Remmert and Charles Workman as Juno and Jupiter and William Christie conducting. This staging was taped, issued as a Decca DVD, and successfully transferred (in 2010) to Vienna's

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prima ...

. In September of the same year a new staging by the Chinese artist

Zhang Huan Zhang Huan (; born 1965) is a Chinese artist based in Shanghai and New York City. He began his career as a painter and then transitioned to performance art before making a comeback to painting. He is primarily known for his performance work, but a ...

, conducted by Rousset, with

Les Talens Lyriques The French musical ensemble Les Talens Lyriques was created in 1991 in Paris, France, by the harpsichordist and orchestral conductor Christophe Rousset. This instrumental and vocal formation derives its name from the subtitle of '' Les fêtes d'H� ...

, opened at

La Monnaie The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie (french: Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, italic=no, ; nl, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg, italic=no; both translating as the "Royal Theatre of the Mint") is an opera house in central Brussels, Belgium. The National O ...

in Brussels. This moved, on 24 October 2010, to Beijing's Poly Theater as part of the Beijing Music Festival—the first major production of a baroque opera in the People's Republic of China. In May 2012 this production moved to the Canadian Opera Company, receiving generally poor reviews for having excised Handel's finale and haphazardly introducing Buddhist themes in an incongruent manner to the source material. Among numerous performances worldwide, the piece received a production as a fully staged opera at

Opera Philadelphia Opera Philadelphia (prior to 2013 Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP)) is an American opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the city's only company producing grand opera. The organization produces one festival in September (Festival O ...

in 2019.

Roles

Synopsis

Precis: Jupiter, King of the gods, takes the mortal Princess Semele to a secret hiding place on a mountain to be his mistress. When Jupiter's wife, Juno, hears of her husband's adultery she is enraged, and plots to ensure Semele's downfall. In disguise, Juno appeals to the girl's vanity and persuades her to insist on seeing her lover in his divine form. Jupiter reluctantly agrees but his thunderbolts burn and consume Semele. From her ashes, though, arise her unborn child by Jupiter—Bacchus, god of wine and ecstasy.

Act 1

Scene: Greece, in legendary antiquity ''The scene is the temple of

Juno Juno commonly refers to: *Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods *Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007 Juno may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters *Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno'' *Ju ...

. Near the altar is a golden image of the goddess'' In the temple of Juno, Cadmus, King of Thebes, is preparing for the marriage of his daughter Semele to Athamas, Prince of Boeotia. Signs from the goddess indicate she approves of the match (Accompanied

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

: ''Behold! Auspicious flashes rise'' and chorus: ''Lucky omens bless our rites''.) However, the bride has been inventing one excuse after the other to put off the wedding and her father and would-be bridegroom urge her to hesitate no longer (Duet: ''Daughter, hear! Hear and obey!'') To herself, Semele reflects on her dilemma—she does not wish to marry Prince Athamas as she is in love with Jove himself and calls on him to assist her (Accompanied recitative: ''Ah me!What refuge now is left me?'',

arioso In classical music, arioso (also aria parlante ) is a category of solo vocal piece, usually occurring in an opera or oratorio, falling somewhere between recitative and aria in style. Literally, arioso means ''airy''. The term arose in the 16th ...

: ''O Jove! In pity teach me which to choose'' and aria: ''The morning lark''). Athamas, observing her, takes her physical signs of emotional upheaval as evidence she is in love with him (Aria: ''Hymen, haste, thy torch prepare''). Ino, Semele's sister, now appears, also in a state of distress as she is in love with Athamas (Quartet: ''Why dost thou thus untimely grieve?'') Jupiter has heard Semele's prayer and his thunderbolts interrupt the proceedings and alarm the observers (Chorus: ''Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs''). The priests of Juno order the wedding abandoned and everyone to leave the temple (Chorus: ''Cease, cease your vows''), which all do except for Athamas, in despair at his wedding being cancelled, and Ino, hopelessly in love with him (Aria: ''Turn, hopeless lover''). Athamas can see she is upset, without guessing why, and he can feel for her in her distress because he is upset too (Aria: ''Your tuneful voice my tale would tell''). Athamas is astonished when she tells him bluntly that she loves him (Duet: ''You've undone me''). Cadmus interrupts their confusion and describes the extraordinary event he has just witnessed: as they fled the temple Semele was suddenly carried off by an eagle (Accompanied recitative: ''Wing'd with our fears''). The priests and augurs identify this eagle as Jupiter himself (Chorus: ''Hail Cadmus, hail!''). As the act ends, Semele is seen enjoying her role as the god's new mistress (Aria: ''Endless pleasure, endless love'').

Act 2

''Scene One'' ''A pleasant country, the prospect terminated by a beautiful mountain adorn'd with woods and waterfalls. Juno and Iris descend in different machines. Juno in a chariot drawn by peacocks; Iris on a rainbow; they alight and meet.'' Juno, suspicious of her husband's conduct, has sent her helper Iris to find out what she can. Iris reports that Jove has installed Semele as his mistress in a palace atop a mountain (Aria: ''There, from mortal cares retiring''). The outraged Juno swears to have revenge (Accompanied recitative: ''Awake, Saturnia, from thy lethargy!''). Iris warns her it will not be an easy task—the palace is guarded by dragons that never sleep (Accompanied recitative: ''With adamant the gates are barr'd''). Juno decides that she and Iris will pay a visit to the god of sleep in his cave, in order to get magical assistance to put the dragons to sleep (Aria:''Hence, Iris, hence away''). ''Scene Two'' ''An apartment in the palace of Semele. She is sleeping, Loves and Zephyrs waiting.'' Semele awakes and regrets that the dream she was having of being with her lover has ended (Aria: ''O sleep, why dost thou leave me?''). When Jupiter enters, in the form of a young man, she tells him how difficult it is for her when he is absent. He explains that she is a mortal, unlike him, and needs to rest from their love-making from time to time. He attempts to assure her of his fidelity (Aria: ''Lay your doubts and fears aside''). Semele sings of her passionate love for him (Aria: ''With fond desiring''). The chorus of Loves and Zephyrs sing of lovers' joys (Chorus: ''How engaging, how endearing''). Semele, however, is beginning to be unhappy that her lover is a god and she a mere mortal. This sign of an ambition to immortality from Semele worries Jupiter who decides he must distract her from such thoughts (Aria: ''I must with speed amuse her''). The Loves and Zephyrs advise Semele to put aside worries and enjoy the delights of love while she can (Chorus: ''Now Love that everlasting boy invites''). Jupiter has arranged for Semele's sister Ino to be magically transported to the palace, to keep her company, and promises that the gardens and environs will be paradise (Aria: ''Where'er you walk''). He leaves, and Ino appears, describing the wondrous experience of being flown there by winged zephyrs (Aria: ''But hark, the heav'nly sphere turns round''). The sisters sing of the joy they are experiencing, hearing the music of the spheres (Duet: ''Prepare then, ye immortal choir'') and nymphs and swains declare that this part of the earth has become a heaven (Chorus: ''Bless the glad earth'').

Act 3

''Scene One'' ''The Cave of Sleep. The God of Sleep lying on his bed.'' Juno and Iris arrive and wake Somnus (Accompanied recitative:''Somnus, awake''), to his displeasure (Aria: ''Leave me, loathsome light''). He only gets out of bed when he hears Juno mention the beautiful nymph Pasithea (Aria: ''More sweet is that name''). Juno promises he will have the nymph if he will lend her magical aid to put the dragons that guard the palace where Semele is ensconced as her husband's mistress to sleep and transform her into the likeness of Semele's sister Ino. Somnus agrees (Duet: ''Obey my will''). ''Scene Two'' ''An Apartment. Semele alone'' Semele is still feeling rather unhappy about the discrepancy between herself and her lover (Aria: ''My racking thoughts''). Juno, in the form of Semele's sister Ino, enters and feigns astonishment at Semele's increased beauty. She exclaims that Semele must have become a goddess herself and gives her a mirror (''Behold in this mirror''). Semele is enraptured by her own beauty (Aria: ''Myself I shall adore''). "Ino" advises Semele to insist that Jupiter appear to her in his real, godlike form, and that will make her immortal herself (Accompanied recitative: ''Conjure him by his oath''). Semele is very grateful for this advice (Aria: ''Thus let my thanks be paid''). "Ino" leaves and Jupiter enters, eager to enjoy Semele (Aria: ''Come to my arms, my lovely fair'') but she puts him off (Aria: ''I ever am granting''). He swears to give her whatever she desires (Accompanied recitative: ''By that tremendous flood, I swear'') and she makes him promise to appear to her in his godlike form (Accompanied recitative: ''Then cast off this human shape''). He is alarmed and says that would harm her (Aria: ''Ah, take heed what you press''), but she insists he keep his oath (Aria: ''No, no, I'll take no less'') and leaves. Jupiter knows this will mean her destruction and mourns her impending doom (Accompanied recitative: ''Ah, whither is she gone''). Juno triumphs in the success of her scheme (Aria: ''Above measure is the pleasure''). ''Scene Three'' ''The scene discovers Semele under a canopy, leaning pensively, while a mournful symphony is playing. She looks up and sees Jupiter ''descending in a cloud; flashes of lightning issue from either side, and thunder is heard grumbling in the air.'' Semele, granted her wish to see Jupiter in his true godlike form, is consumed by his thunderbolts, and as she dies she regrets her own foolishness and ambition (Accompanied recitative: ''Ah me! Too late I now repent''). Watching this, the priests of Juno express their amazement (Chorus: ''Oh, terror and astonishment!''). Athamas is now glad to accept Ino as his bride (Aria: ''Despair no more shall wound me''). The god Apollo descends on a cloud and announces that the unborn child of Semele and Jupiter will arise from her ashes (Accompanied recitative: ''Apollo comes, to relieve your care''). The child will be Bacchus, god of wine and ecstasy, a god "more mighty than love". All celebrate the fortunate outcome (Chorus: ''Happy, happy shall we be'').

Musical features

The pleasure-loving and vain Semele is aptly characterised through Handel's music. The work contains one of Handel's most famous arias, the lyrical "Where'er you walk" for the tenor, with words from

Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early 18th century. An exponent of Augustan literature, ...

's "The Pastorals". Comedy is interwoven into the drama, notably in the scene in the cave of the god of sleep. The monumental chorus "O terror! and astonishment" after Semele's death shows the influence of the earlier English composer

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

Recordings

Audio recordings

Video recording

References

;Notes ;Sources * *

External links

*
Score
of ''Semele'' (ed.

Friedrich Chrysander Karl Franz Friedrich Chrysander (8 July 1826 – 3 September 1901) was a German music historian, critic and publisher, whose edition of the works of George Frideric Handel and authoritative writings on many other composers established him as a ...

, Leipzig 1860)
Congreve's libretto for ''Semele''
hosted by

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

.
A rare ''Semele'' by Handel
review by Donal Henahan in

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

, 25 February 1985 {{Authority control Oratorios by George Frideric Handel Operas by George Frideric Handel English-language operas 1743 operas Operas Operas based on Metamorphoses