HANDEL, G.F.: Semele [Opera] (Alexandra Palace, 2019)
Semele, HWV 58
Composer: Handel, George Frideric
Librettist/Text Author: Congreve, William
Conductor: Gardiner, John Eliot
Ensemble: English Baroque Soloists
Chorus: Monteverdi Choir
Apollo: Davoren, Peter
Athamas: Vistoli, Carlo
Augur: Rowlands, Angharad
Cadmus / Somnus: Buratto, Gianluca
Cupid: Hicks, Angela
High Priest: Webb, Christopher
Iris: Owen, Emily
Juno / Ino: Richardot, Lucile
Jupiter: Hymas, Hugo
Semele: Alder, Louise
Costume Designer: Hofstede, Patricia
Lighting Designer: Fisher, Rick
Stage Director: Guthrie, Thomas
Television Director: Kealey, Robert
Date of Production: 02-05-2019
Venue: Alexandra Palace Theater, London
Playing Time: 02:48:29
Catalogue Number: EuroArts5761
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.
