In Spring 2019, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, led by John Eliot Gardiner, presented a critically-acclaimed European tour of Handel's opera 'Semele', including Alexandra Palace Theatre in London, where this live recording took place. Semele had not been performed by John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi ensembles since they originally recorded it in the 1980s and this recording gives listeners the chance to hear a fuller version of the work. A glamorous team of young soloists joins the Monteverdi ensembles to bring the story of Semele to life, including celebrated English soprano Louise Alder, who takes on the title role, with the young tenor Hugo Hymas portraying the amorous Jupiter. "Semele's musical score is a glorious blend of irresistible solo arias - some virtuosic showstoppers, others lyrical, sensual and evocative, ensembles, duets, accompanied recitatives and (unlike his operas) imposing choruses. Still more than when I first performed it and recorded it almost forty years ago, I feel Semele's time has finally come." (John Eliot Gardiner)
3 Act I Scene 1: Accompanied Recitative: Behold! Auspicious Flashes Rise (High Priest)
4 Act I Scene 1: Lucky Omens Bless Our Rites (Chorus)
5 Act I Scene 1: Recitative and Arioso: Daughter, Obey, Hear and Obey! (Cadmus, Athamas)
6 Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Ah Me, Ah Me! What Refuge Now Is Left Me? (Semele)
7 Act I Scene 1: Aria: O Jove! in Pity Teach Me Which to Choose (Semele)
8 Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Alas! She Yields, and Has Undone Me! (Ino, Athamas)
9 Act I Scene 1: Quartet: Why Dost Thou Thus Untimely Grieve (Cadmus, Ino, Athamas, Semele)
10 Act I Scene 1: Avert These Omens, All Ye Pow'rs! (Chorus)
11 Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Again Auspicious Flashes Rise - Thy Aid, Pronubial Juno, Athamas Implores! (Athamas, Semele)
12 Act I Scene 1: Cease, Cease Your Vows, 'Tis Impious to Proceed (Chorus)
13 Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Turn, Hopeless Lover, Turn Thy Eye (Ino) - She Weeps! (Athamas)
14 Act I Scene 2: Aria: Your Tuneful Voice My Tale Would Tell (Athamas)
15 Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Too Well I See, Thou Wilt Not Understand Me (Ino, Athamas)
16 Act I Scene 2: Duet: You've Undone Me (Ino, Athamas)
17 Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Ah, Wretched Prince, Doom'd to Disastrous Love! (Cadmus, Athamas) - Accompanied Recitative: Wing'd with Our Fears and Pious
18 Act I Scene 3: Hail, Cadmus, Hail! (Chorus)
19 Act I Scene 4: Aria and Chorus: Endless Pleasure, Endless Love (Augur, Chorus)
- Disc 2 -
1 » 1. Act II: Sinfonia
2 Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Iris, Impatient of Thy Stay (Juno, Iris)
3 Act II Scene 1: Aria: There, from Mortal Cares Retiring (Iris) - Recitative: No More, I'll Hear No More (Juno)
4 Act II Scene 1: Accompanied Recitative: Awake, Saturnia, from Thy Lehargy! (Juno) - Recitative: Hear, Mighty Queen, While I Recount - Accompanied
5 Act II Scene 1: Aria: Hence, Iris, Hence Away (Juno)
6 Act II Scene 2: Aria: Come, Zephyrs, Come (Cupid)
7 Act II Scene 2: Aria: O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me? (Semele)
8 Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Let Me Not Another Moment (Semele)
9 Act II Scene 3: Aria: Lay Your Doubts and Fears Aside (Jupiter)
10 Act II Scene 3: Recitative: You Are Mortal and Require Time to Rest (Jupiter)
11 Act II Scene 3: Aria: With Fond Desiring (Semele)
12 Act II Scene 3: How Engaging, How Endearing (Chorus)
13 Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Ah Me! - Why Sighs My Semele? (Semele, Jupiter)
14 Act II Scene 3: Aria: I Must with Speed Amuse Her (Jupiter)
15 Act II Scene 3: Now Love That Everlasting Boy Invites (Chorus)
16 Act II Scene 3: Recitative: By My Command (Jupiter, Semele)
17 Act II Scene 3: Aria: Where'er You Walk (Jupiter)
18 Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Dear Sister, How Was Your Passage Hither? (Semele, Ino)
19 Act II Scene 4: Aria: But Hark, the Heav'nly Sphere Turns Round (Ino)
20 Act II Scene 4: Duet: Prepare Then, Ye Immortal Choir! (Semele, Ino)
21 Act II Scene 4: Bless the Glad Earth with Heav'nly Lays (Chorus)
- Disc 3 -
1 1. Act III: Sinfonia
2 Act III Scene 1: Accompanied Recitative: Somnus, Awake! Eaise Thy Reclining Head! (Juno, Iris)
3 Act III Scene 1: Aria: Leave Me, Loathsome Light (Somnus)
4 Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Dull God, Canst Thou Attend the Water's Fall (Iris, Juno)
5 Act III Scene 1: Aria: More Sweet Is That Name (Somnus)
6 Act III Scene 1: Recitative: My Will Obey, She Shall Be Thine (Juno, Somnus)
7 Act III Scene 1: Duet: Obey My Will, Thy Rod Resign (Juno, Somnus)
8 Act III Scene 2: Aria: My Racking Thoughts By No Kind Slumbers Freed (Semele)
9 Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Thus Shap'd Like Ino (Juno, Semele)
10 Act III Scene 3: Aria: Myself I Shall Adore (Semele)
11 Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Be Wise, As You Are Beautiful (Juno, Semele) - Accompanied Recitative: Conjure Him By His Oath (Juno)
12 Act III Scene 3: Aria: Thus Let My Thanks Be Paid (Semele)
13 Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Rich Odours Fill the Fragrant Air (Juno, Semele)
14 Act III Scene 4: Aria: Come to My Arms, My Lovely Fair (Jupiter)
15 Act III Scene 4: Recitative: O Semele! (Jupiter) - Aria: I Ever Am Granting (Semele)
16 Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Speak, Speak Your Desire (Jupiter, Semele) - Accompanied Recitative: By That Tremendous Flood, I Swear (Jupiter)
17 Act III Scene 4: Aria: Ah, Take Heed What You Press (Jupiter)
18 Act III Scene 4: Aria: No, No, I'll Take No Less (Semele)
19 Act III Scene 5: Accompanied Recitative: Ah, Whither Is She Gone, Unhappy Fair?
20 Act III Scene 6: Aria: Above Measure Is the Pleasure, Which My Revenge Supplies!
21 Act III Scene 7: Accompanied Recitative: Ah Me! Too Late I Now Repent (Semele)
22 Act III Scene 8: Oh, Terror and Astonishment! (Chorus)
23 Act III Scene 8: Recitative: How I Was Hence Remov'd (Ino, Cadmus, Athamas)
24 Act III Scene 8: Aria: Despair No More Shall Wound Me (Athamus)
25 Act III Scene 8: Recitative: See from Above the Bellying Clouds Descend (Cadmus)
26 Act III Scene 9: Sinfonia
27 Act III Scene 9: Accompanied Recitative: Apollo Comes, to Relieve Your Care (Apollo)
28 Act III Scene 9: Happy, Happy Shall We Be (Chorus)
In Spring 2019, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, led by John Eliot Gardiner, presented a critically-acclaimed European tour of Handel's opera 'Semele', including Alexandra Palace Theatre in London, where this live recording took place. Semele had not been performed by John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi ensembles since they originally recorded it in the 1980s and this recording gives listeners the chance to hear a fuller version of the work. A glamorous team of young soloists joins the Monteverdi ensembles to bring the story of Semele to life, including celebrated English soprano Louise Alder, who takes on the title role, with the young tenor Hugo Hymas portraying the amorous Jupiter. "Semele's musical score is a glorious blend of irresistible solo arias - some virtuosic showstoppers, others lyrical, sensual and evocative, ensembles, duets, accompanied recitatives and (unlike his operas) imposing choruses. Still more than when I first performed it and recorded it almost forty years ago, I feel Semele's time has finally come." (John Eliot Gardiner)
