Academy of Ancient Music & Cambridge Handel Opera Company singers
Cambridge Handel Opera Company, Cambridge Early Music and Academy of Ancient Music join forces for the first time for a rare concert performance of John Eccles’ Semele.
Semele is a lively retelling of the story of Jupiter’s pursuit of the Theban princess. Juno plots her downfall by persuading her to insist on seeing him in his divine form, whereupon his thunderbolts consume her. Planned for the opening of London’s Italian Opera House, Semele was never performed at the time, and the libretto is best known today from Handel’s later Oratorio.
It is a highly dramatic and effective response to the text in an attractive idiom mixing English and Italian elements and deserves to be better known.
Pre-concert talk at 6.30pm – Michaelhouse Chapel
Professor Peter Holman and Dr Alan Howard presented by Dr Ruth Smith
Other events which you may like
Delighting the people: A Jacobean Christmas
The Marian Consort
Wed 6 Dec 2023 19:30 free to £37.50
Trinity College Chapel
Solos, Duos & Trios
Orpheus Britannicus
Fri 26 Jan 2024 18:00 free to £27.50
St Catharine's Chapel
The Honour of William Byrd
Chelys Consort of Viols and Helen Charlston
Sat 10 Feb 2024 19:00 free to £27.50
St Catharine's College Chapel