No. 52. Semele: 'My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed'
2:42
Scene 3
9.
No. 53. Juno: 'Thus shap'd like Ino'
1:26
10.
No. 54. Semele: 'Myself I shall adore'
7:16
11.
No. 55. Juno: 'Be wise, as you are beautiful'
1:48
12.
No. 56. Semele: 'Thus let my tanks be paid'
2:20
13.
No. 57. Juno: 'Rich odours fill the fragrant air'
0:22
Scene 4
14.
No. 58. Jupiter: 'Come to my arms, my lovely fair'
2:51
15.
No. 59. Jupiter: 'O Semele'
0:06
16.
No. 60. Semele: 'I ever am granting'
1:35
17.
No. 61. Jupiter: 'Speak, speak your desire'
0:37
18.
No. 62. Semele: 'You'll grant what I require'
0:10
19.
No. 63. Semele: 'Then cast off this human shape which you wear'
0:16
20.
No. 64. Jupiter: 'Ah, take heed what you press'
1:14
21.
No. 65. Semele: 'No, no! I'll take no less'
5:12
Scene 5
22.
No. 66. Jupiter: 'Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy fair!'
3:06
Scene 6
23.
No. 67. Juno: 'Above measure'
2:22
Scene 7
24.
No. 68. Semele: 'Ah me! too late I now repent'
3:07
Scene 8
25.
No. 69. Ino: 'Of my ill-boding dream'
0:12
26.
No. 70. Chorus: 'O terror and astonishment!'
4:00
27.
No. 71. Ino: 'How I was hence remov'd'
0:41
28.
No. 72. Athamus: 'Despair no more shall wound me'
5:07
29.
No. 73. Cadmus: 'See from above the bellying clouds descend'
0:14
Scene 9
30.
No. 74. Sinfonia. [ ]
1:19
31.
No. 75. Apollo: 'Apollo comes to relieve your care'
0:43
32.
No. 76. All: 'Happy, happy shall we be'
3:02
63:28
Mortals
Solo: Hilary Summers contralto - Ino
Solo: Stephen Wallace counter-tenor - Athamus
Choral: Chorus of Early Opera Company Chorus of Priests and Augurs
Immortals
Solo:Richard Croft tenor - Jupiter
Solo: Hilary Summers contralto - Juno
Solo: Gail Pearson soprano - Iris
Solo: Richard Croft tenor - Apollo
Choral: Chorus of Early Opera Company Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs; Chorus of Nymphs and Swains; Attendants
Orchestra: Early Opera Company
Conductor:Christian Curnyn
16-20 April 2007
Notes
HANDEL: SEMELE (3 CDs selling for the price of 2) This is the second Handel opera on the Chaconne label from the Early Opera Company conducted by Christian Curnyn, described by The Times as 'our finest young Handelian'. The first opera, Partenope, was released to glowing reviews in 2005. Rosemary Joshua in the title role is a noted Handel performer and has sung the role of Semele at English National Opera, Grange Park and Aix-en-Provence. She is joined by Hilary Summers and Gail Pearson together with Brindley Sherratt, Richard Croft and Stephen Wallace. After the performance at Grange Park in 2006 The Guardian> reviewer commented: 'with singing as entrancing as this, time just seemed to fly by. I look forward to the recording.'
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Reviews
With Rosemary Joshua’s enchantingly ditzy heroine, Richard Croft’s romantic Jupiter and Hilary Summers as Ino/Juno, this is the most complete and idiomatically sung account on disc of Handel’s closet English Opera
Sunday Times ‘Disc of the Year 2007’
In the title role, soprano Rosemary Joshua applies light and graceful tone and conveys Smemle’s willful, pleasure-seeking nature. As her immortal lover Jupiter, tenor Richard Croft is equally lucid and nimble.
BBC Music Magazine
Chandos’s new entrant is the first early-instrument Semele to be recorded absolutely complete… Thanks no doubt to stage experience as Semele, Rosemary Joshua brings irresistible unforced charm to her every scene. There is character in even the smallest phrases…Chandos provides clear, natural sound.
International Record Review
Christian Curnyn understands the unique tinta of this gorgeous score, and directs his spruce period band with a nice blend of nonchalant elegance and dramatic energy. Tempi are shrewdly judged, rhythms light and supple, and recitatives tumble inevitably into arias…. As at the English National opera, rosemary Joshua, radiant of tone, dazzling coloratura, makes Semele far more than an over-sexed airhead… this becomes a clear first choice for an ever enticing work.
Gramophone
It is superbly sung by the tenor Robert Croft, easily the most sensuous of all recorded Jupiters, while Rosemary Joshua is captivating as Semele – her diamaninte tone and dazzling coloratura technique making nimble work of her gorgeous arias… A must for Handelians, and anyone who doesn’t know one of his most life-enhancing masterpieces.
The Sunday Times
Rosemary Joshua has established herself as one of the foremost interpreters of the role of Semele, the charming, dizzy-headed mortal who falls in love with the king of the gods. She excels at the fearsome coloratura, the warm lyricism, and the sheer fizz of the role. All this comes across in conductor Christian Curnyn’s recording, and there‘s some beautiful support from Richard Croft as Jupiter and counter tenor Stephen Wallce as Semele’s financé Athamus
Classic FM
An obligatory set for Handelians
Goldberg 50
…this new recording becomes the prime recommendation for Handel’s hedonistic masterpiece.
Telegraph Classical CD of the Week
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