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Royal Ballet and Opera

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Direction de choeur

Direction de choeur (+2)

William Spaulding

Direction d'orchestre

Direction d'orchestre (+4)

Christian Curnyn

Soprano (+2)

Pretty Yende

Semele

Ténor (+2)

Ben Bliss

Jupiter

Basse (+4)

Brindley Sherratt

Cadmus

Somnus

Contre-ténor (+5)

Carlo Vistoli

Athamas

Mezzo-soprano (+4)

Alice Coote

Juno

Mezzo-soprano (+2)

Niamh O'Sullivan

Marta Hovhannisyan

Iris

Mise en scène

Oliver Mears

Décors

Décors (+1)

Annemarie Woods

Costumes

Lumières

Lumières (+2)

Fabiana Piccioli

Chorégraphie

Chorégraphie (+1)

Sarah Fahie

Royal Opera House

Chorus

Chorus of the Royal Opera House

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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