Handel's Semele (ENO): Act 3

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 Three

Somnus is sleeping peacefully in his cave when Juno and Iris arrive. It is only when Juno speaks the name of the nymph Pasithea that Somnus awakes. In exchange for the nymph, Somnus agrees to help Juno. He is even prepared to lend her his magic, sleep-inducing wand, which she will need to elude the dragons that guard Semele's palace.

Juno, now disguised as Ino, appears to Semele. She first presents her 'sister' with a magic mirror which causes Semele instantly to fall in love with her own image. Juno then craftily advises the young woman how to obtain the immortality she desires: Jupiter must be tricked into making love to her in his true god-like form, rather than in his mortal disguise. Semele is delighted and thanks her profusely.

Jupiter returns, enflamed with desire. Semele rejects him until he swears to give her whatever she wants. Continuing to follow Juno's advice, she asks him to appear in all his godly splendour. The god is horrified and desperately warns her of the mortal danger she is in. Semele refuses to accept anything less than the fulfilment of her wish and leaves Jupiter to lament his part in her inevitable destruction.

Juno gloats over her triumph, while Semele realizes too late the consequences of her ambition. As she approaches the godhead, the flames of Jupiter's power burn her and she dies.

The people lament Semele's death. Ino describes a dream in which Hermes revealed Jupiter's wish for her and Athamas to wed. Jupiter himself now appears and announces that his union with Semele will result in the birth of Bacchus, the god of wine. The people are left to celebrate this unexpected piece of good news.

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

[lisaannejane2]

Didn't anyone tell Semele that you should not play with fire? Not the smartest mortal around.

[nuf294w]

Thank you so much for potsing the whole opera. I was lucky enough to see this production at The Coliseum and have searched for it on DVD so it is a great treat to have it now in digital form.