Semele (HWV 58) is a 'musical drama', originally presented "after the manner of an oratorio", in three parts by George Frideric Handel. Based on a pre-existent opera libretto by William Congreve, the work is an opera in all but name but was first presented in concert form at Covent Garden theatre on 10 February 1744. The story comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses and concerns Semele, mother of Bacchus. Handel also referred to the work as 'The Story of Semele'.
Librettist | William Congreve (Based on a libretto for an English opera ca.1706 after Ovid's Metamorphoses, with added texts from Alexander Pope (1688-1744) and other works of Congreve) |
Date of composition | 1743 |
Premiered | 1744, February 10th (Covent Garden Theatre) in London, UK |
Type | Oratorio |
Catalogue | HWV 58 |
Spoken language | English |
Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Jupiter
Voice (Bass) - Cadmus, King of Thebes Voice (Soprano) - Semele, daughter to Cadmus, belov'd by and in love with Jupiter Voice (Alto) - Athamas, a prince of Bœotia, in love with, and design'd to marry Semele Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Ino, sister to Semele, in love with Athamas Voice (Bass) - Somnus Voice (Tenor) - Apollo Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Juno Voice (Soprano) - Iris Voice (Bass) - High priest Chorus/Choir - priests, augurs, loves, zephyrs, nymphs, swains and attendants |
Links | |
Autotranslations beta |
Georg Friedrich Haendel: Semele, HWV 58 Georg Friedrich Händel: Semele, HWV 58 Georg Friedrich Händel: Semele, HWV 58 |