DESCRIPTION:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Semele (musical theatrical entertainment in three acts), HWV 58 (1743)

Libretto: William Congreve

00:00 - No. 1: Overture (No tempo marking - Allegro - Adagio - Gavotte)

Act I.
07:42 - i / No. 2: Behold! auspicious flashes rise! [Cadmus]
09:06 - No. 3: Lucky omens bless our rites [Chor.]
12:21 - No. 4: Daughter, obey [Cad., Athamus]
13:17 - No. 5: Ah me! What refuge now is left me? [Semele]
15:59 - No. 6: The morning lark to mine accords his note [Air: Sem.]
23:23 - No. 7: See, she blushing turns her eyes [Ath.]
23:40 - No. 8: Hymen, haste, thy torch prepare [Air: Ath.]
28:26 - No. 9: Alas! she yields [Ino, Ath., Sem.]
29:08 - No. 10: Why dost thou thus untimely grieve [Quartet: Cad., Ino, Ath., Sem.]
32:08 - No. 11: Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs! [Chor.]
34:12 - No. 12: Again auspicious flashes rise [Cad.]
34:50 - No. 13: Thy aid, pronubial Juno, Athamus implores [Ath., Sem.]
35:02 - No. 14: Cease, cease your vows, 'tis impious to proceed [Chor.]
35:35 - ii / No. 15: O Athamus, what torture hast thou borne! [Ath.]
36:04 - No. 16: Turn, hopeless lover, turn thy eyes [Air: Ino]
44:05 - No. 17: She weeps! The gentle maid [Ath.]
44:23 - No. 18: Your tuneful voice my tale would tell [Air: Ath.]
48:13 - No. 19: Too well I see [Ino]
48:55 - No. 20: You've undone me [Duet: Ino, Ath.]
51:21 - iii / No. 21a: Ah, wretched Prince [Cad., Ath., Ino]
53:16 - iv / No. 21b: See, see, Jove's Priests and holy Augurs come [do.]
53:30 - No. 22: Hail, Cadmus, hail! [Chor.]
55:00 - No. 23: Endless pleasure, endless love [Air: Sem.]

Act II.
59:54 - No. 24: Sinfonia [Presto]
1:01:29 - i / No. 25: Iris, impatient of thy stay [Juno, Iris]
1:02:16 - No. 26: There, from mortal cares retiring [Air: Iris]
1:05:55 - No. 27: No more - I'll hear no more [Juno, Iris]
1:08:00 - No. 28: Hence, Iris, hence away [Air: Juno]
1:11:50 - ii / No. 30: O sleep, why dost thou leave me? [Sem.]
1:14:43 - iii / No. 31: Let me not another moment [Sem.]
1:15:03 - No. 32: Lay your doubts and fears aside [Air: Jupiter]
1:18:10 - No. 33: You are mortal, and require [Jup.]
1:18:27 - No. 34: With fond desiring [Air: Sem.]
1:21:48 - No. 35: How engaging, how endearing [Chor.]
1:24:51 - No. 36: Ah me! [Sem.] - Why sighs my Semele? [Jup.]
1:25:59 - No. 37: I must with speed amuse her [Air: Jup.]
1:29:55 - No. 38: Now Love that everlasting boy invites [Chor.]
1:32:16 - No. 39: By my command [Jup., Sem.]
1:33:19 - No. 40: Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade [Air: Jup.]
1:38:15 - iv / No. 41: Dear sister [Sem., Ino]
1:38:54 - No. 42: But hark! the heav'nly sphere turns round [Air: Ino]
1:41:20 - No. 43: Prepare then, ye immortal choir [Duet: Ino, Sem.]
1:43:16 - No. 44: Bless the glad earth with heav'nly lays [Chor.]

Act III.
1:46:03 - No. 45: Sinfonia [Larghetto e piano per tutto]
1:47:31 - i / No. 46: Somnus, awake [Juno, Iris]
1:48:02 - No. 47: Leave me, loathsome light [Air: Somnus]
1:51:27 - No. 48: Dull God, canst thou attend the water's fall [Iris, Juno]
1:51:57 - No. 49: More sweet is that name [Air: Som.]
1:54:32 - No. 50: My will obey [Juno, Som.]
1:55:46 - No. 51: Obey my will, thy rod resign [Duet: Juno, Som.]
1:57:43 - ii / No. 52: My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed [Air: Sem.]
2:00:24 - iii / No. 53: Thus shap'd like Ino [Juno, Sem.]
2:01:49 - No. 54: Myself I shall adore [Air: Sem.]
2:09:05 - No. 55: Be wise, as you are beautiful [Juno, Sem.]
2:10:52 - No. 56: Thus let my thanks be paid [Air: Sem.]
2:13:11 - No. 57: Rich odours fill the fragrant air [Juno, Sem.]
2:13:33 - iv / No. 58: Come to my arms, my lovely fair [Air: Jup.]
2:16:23 - No. 59: O Semele [Jup.]
2:16:28 - No. 60: I ever am granting [Air: Sem.]
2:18:02 - No. 61: Speak, speak your desire [Jup., Sem.]
2:18:38 - No. 62: You'll grant what I require [Sem., Jup.]
2:18:47 - No. 63: Then cast off this human shape which you wear [Sem.]
2:19:03 - No. 64: Ah, take heed what you press [Air: Jup.]
2:20:17 - No. 65: No, no! I'll take no less [Air: Sem.]
2:25:28 - v / No. 66: Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy fair! [Jup.]
2:28:33 - vi / No. 67: Above measure [Air: Juno]
2:30:56 - vii / No. 68: Ah me! too late I now repent [Sem.]
2:34:03 - viii / No. 69: Of my ill-boding dream [Ino]
2:34:15 - No. 70: O terror and astonishment! [Chor. of Priests]
2:38:15 - No. 71: How I was hence remov'd [Ino, Cad.]
2:38:56 - No. 72: Despair no more shall wound me [Air: Ath.]
2:44:03 - No. 73: See from above the bellying clouds descend [Cad.]
2:44:17 - ix / No. 74: Sinfonia [No tempo marking]
2:45:36 - No. 75: Apollo comes to relieve your care [Apollo]
2:46:19 - No. 76: Happy, happy shall we be [All]

Semele (soprano) - Rosemary Joshua
Iris (soprano) - Gail Pearson
Ino/Juno (contralto) - Hilary Summers
Athamus (countertenor) - Stephen Wallace
Jupiter/Apollo (tenor) - Richard Croft
Cadmus/Somnus (bass) - Brindley Sherratt

Early Opera Company, dir. Christian Curnyn (2007)

Painting: Death of Semele, Peter Paul Rubens