Composer: George Frideric Handel
Librettist: William Congreve (adapted by anonymous)
Premiere Performance: Feb 10, 1744—Royal Opera House, London, England
Sex and death. While most opera plots distill these themes, Semele is entirely about these themes. Princess Semele burns with passion for her seducer, Jupiter, king of the gods, but is ultimately brought down by his wife Juno. With the exquisite music of a genius, Semele is a love triangle soaked in sensuality, ambition, and jealousy that features many of G.F. Handel’s most beautiful arias and choruses. A company premiere of a gloriously moving masterpiece of the Baroque era.
Performed in English with English Supertitles
Performance runtime: approximately 3 hours, 38 minutes
Act I: 41 minutes | Intermission: 25 minutes | Act II: 46 minutes | Intermission: 25 minutes | Act IV: 66 minutes