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Royal Ballet and Opera

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Chorusmaster

Chorusmaster (+2)

William Spaulding

Conductor

Conductor (+4)

Christian Curnyn

Soprano (+2)

Pretty Yende

Semele

Tenor (+2)

Ben Bliss

Jupiter

Bass (+4)

Brindley Sherratt

Cadmus

Somnus

Countertenor (+5)

Carlo Vistoli

Athamas

Mezzo-soprano (+4)

Alice Coote

Juno

Mezzo-soprano (+2)

Niamh O'Sullivan

Marta Hovhannisyan

Iris

Stage director

Oliver Mears

Set designer

Set designer (+1)

Annemarie Woods

Costume designer

Lighting designer

Lighting designer (+2)

Fabiana Piccioli

Choreographer

Choreographer (+1)

Sarah Fahie

Royal Opera House

Chorus

Royal Opera Chorus

Jupiter lives to seduce and destroy. Semele is his latest conquest. 

Uncanny, strange and darkly satirical, this new production from Oliver Mears considers powerlessness, privilege and degradation. First performed in 1744, Semele marks the latest instalment in The Royal Opera's series of Handel's Covent Garden works. Pretty Yende headlines, with Ben Bliss, who makes his debut with The Royal Opera, as her seductive but sinister lover. Brindley Sherratt, Carlo Vistoli and Alice Coote also star, conducted by Baroque specialist Christian Curnyn.

VISIONS OF PARADISE 
The most famous aria in Handel's musical drama is ‘Where'er you walk’, sung by Jupiter to reassure Semele. It is equally popular across the classical music community. ‘Where'er you walk / Cool gales shall fan the glade / Trees where you sit / Shall crowd into a shade,’ sings Jupiter, likening his palace gardens to paradise. Set to lyrics by Alexander Pope from the poet’s Pastorals, the aria is recognisable for its calm and serene manner, making it a popular wedding – and funeral – song.

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