Semele

Thank you for your kind invitation to report on your recent production of this unusual Handel opera that is so rarely performed these days. The story weaves around the gods of the ancient world and their interactions with people of the period, with the crucial relationship between Jupiter and Semele and the jealousy of Juno being the core of the libretto.  

So the question must have arisen as to how to make this period piece more attractive to the modern audience.  This was beautifully done by making the gods present on mobile phones, portraying the fickleness of the crowd, using electric scooters for transport in places and setting part of the action in a spa beauty salon.  These touches certainly made the audience chuckle!  Other than that, the set was very well planned, with most of the stage available for acting on beside a small section for the musicians.  This enabled the singers and conductor to see each other easily and made the chamber music more easily heard for the interludes. 

Staging was simple and very effective in creating the feel of a classical villa or street, with a low platform at the back, steps down in the centre and a few low square pillars with trailing creeper forming interesting spaces. This was later easily transformed into the spa beauty salon and Semele’s room. Once the three rows of chairs for the opening were removed, the open stage allowed good space for the full cast when needed - and yet also created more intimate spaces for the later scenes.  There were a good variety of entrances, with the ramp for the scooters being the most innovative. 

Lighting was very well done, with the projection of flames and other effects working very well; cues were prompt and lighting levels were appropriate throughout.  The music was lovely, with the harpsichord creating a gentle continuum and supported nicely by the strings and oboe.  The support this accompaniment gave to the singers was well controlled and soft, allowing the voices to be dominant.  

The cast performed very well, with their mobile phones out in the opening as they were swayed between which gods to follow. The chorus singing was at times a little hesitant, but overall the quality of the sound was majestic.  The lead singers were excellent, with beautiful tone and good acting that brought the characters to life, particularly Jupiter and Semele. The interactions between the characters was also very good, with Juno, Athamas and Ino, Cadmus and Iris all being highly believable. Ino and Iris had particularly clear singing voices that were a pleasure to listen to. 

Cast in detail

Semele: played her part with total commitment and a real understanding of the character’s emotions. This was beautifully rendered in the singing, with every move made being meaningful and very good facial expressions. An excellent performance!

Jupiter: this was a wonderful part for this actor/singer who totally looked the part in every sense. His acting was very good, subtle at times but very expressive in the love scenes, while his singing was beautiful. An excellent performance!

Juno:  a less obvious character but very nicely played, especially when ‘speaking’ through Ino in misleading Semele.  This was very well played indeed. Perhaps a little more body language would help to make this character even more powerful?

Ino:  this was a lovely part for this young singer.  She suited the part well with strong emotions and good facial expression, and an excellent voice. Her body language was very clear, especially when confronting Semele and then winning Athamas’ love.  Well done!

Cadmus: This was a crucial part and was very well performed.  Singing was clear and good and the part was nicely and gently played.

Others and Chorus: despite the hesitation of a singing entry by the chorus at a couple of points, this opera was well performed by everyone involved.  There was a reality in the crowd scenes, with various characters being shown. The lesser characters were well sung and acted, and supported the chorus well. 

Overall, this was a delightful production that was easy to listen to and to watch, clear in its presentation and innovative in its staging. There were very few pauses in the staging, which made for a nicely coherent production. The whole show was very well woven together and the cast were very well suited to their various roles - with some individuality within the chorus that was a joy to see. I hope that you enjoyed performing in this show as much as I did seeing it.  Congratulations to everyone involved!

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