Handel's Semele (ENO): Act 2

Due to popular demand, here is the English National Opera (ENO) version of Semele in full. Unfortunately, there is no DVD version of this star cast from 1999:

Semele - Rosemary Joshua
Jupiter/Apollo - John Mark Ainsley
Juno - Susan Bickley
Ino - Sarah Connolly
Prince Athamas - Stephen Wallace
Cadmus - Graeme Danby
Iris - Janis Kelly

Chorus and Orchestra of ENO
Conductor - Harry Bickett

Music by George Frideric Handel
Libretto by William Congreve after Ovid
First performed: 1744

Semele Synopsis - Act Two
Iris reports to Juno the whereabouts of Semele's newly built, dragon-guarded palace. Enraged, Juno swears to destroy her rival; but first she decides to set out and find Somnus, the god of sleep, in order to enlist his help in achieving her revenge.

Waking in her bedroom, Semele languidly awaits the return of her lover. Jupiter appears and reassures her of his love. Semele tells him that she is uneasy when she compares her mortality to his godliness, causing Jupiter to be alarmed by her ambition.

Rather than telling her that she can never attain immortality, he decides to divert her. His plans include bringing her sister Ino from Earth. Semele's fears are calmed for the moment and when Ino appears the two sisters extol the music of the spheres.

Presented by Charles Hazlewood.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Handel
• Semele
• English National Opera
• Rosemary Joshua
• John Mark Ainsley
• Susan Bickley
• Sarah Connolly
• Stephen Wallace
• Graeme Danby
• Janis Kelly
• Opera

[teacherj]

Iris rolling on the floor when Juno sings"rolling down the dephs of night! Too funny!

[teacherj]

I've always been a fan of Semele for over the past thirty-plus years. In this production, I love how the opera comes alive with the imaginative acting. Iris comes across as a pesky smarty assisiant which makes me crack up with laughter. The newspaper reading "Jupiter and Semele: It's Official" was another funny moment. I really cracked up when Juno tried to sing the closing cadenza of "Iris Hence Away" while looking franctically through her purse for AIRLINE TICKETS!? The audience hollered!!

[lisaannejane2]

Thanks for putting this on you tube. I may change my mind about opera.

[Rosecrus]

Thank you!! BRILLIANT. Love it. Love it. Love it.