Handel’s most scandalous opera : Semele

The New Zealand School of Music Proudly Presents Handel’s most scandalous opera -
Semele be careful what you wish for…

By George Frideric Handel
Conducted by Michael Vinten
Directed by Sara Brodie

Upon the 250th year of Handel’s death, the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) proudly presents his most scandalous opera Semele. This blindly ambitious, erotic and highly comic production, directed by Sara Brodie, promises to transform the Adam Concert Room beyond recognition into a world where elemental forces and the passions of the Gods hold sway. It features the stars of classical mythology in full regalia and a twenty-five piece orchestra under the baton of Michael Vinten.

Jenny Wollerman, lecturer in Classical Performance Voice at the NZSM says; “The voice students are relishing the opportunity to perform both in lead roles and chorus in the staged production. A number of roles have been double cast, including the role of Semele, which will be played Amelia Berry, winner of the 2008 Otago Daily Times Aria, and Rose Blake, completing BMus Honours this year. Jupiter will be sung Michael Gray, an Emerging Artist with NBR NZ Opera in 2008, and now studying for a Master of Music in Performance at NZSM. The chorus and other roles are taken by second and third year voice students, for whom the staging of an opera is a natural extension of their weekly Vocal Ensemble and Stagecraft classes with director Sara Brodie.”

The opera commences with the epic royal marriage of the beautiful Princess Semele to playboy Prince Athamus. The omens are good but Semele has other ideas – after all, why marry a Prince when you could seduce a God? The wedding of the decade quickly dissolves into farce, much to the public embarrassment of Cadmus, King of Thebes.

Meanwhile, sky deity Jupiter is at it again. He employs his elemental prowess to abduct the bride and make the heavens (literally) fall on those below. With voyeuristic glee Iris reports on the “Endless pleasures Semele enjoys above” and infects the wedding guests with amorous desire. Less impressed and certainly less amorous is Juno who has had enough of her husband’s philandering. The more she hears the more she is incensed.

But Semele wants more. Her sights are set on being immortalized and goddess-like herself. Jupiter “Must with speed amuse her” to distract her from such dangerous aspirations.
Juno takes full advantage the situation. Disguised she advises Semele that to become immortal Jupiter must appear to her in his full thunderous glory and to get what she wants from Jupiter all she need do is abstain to gain. The conclusion proves fatal, as Jupiter crumbles and Semele’s ambition goes up in smoke.

Handel’s opera includes arias such as “Endless pleasure”, “No, no, I’ll take no less”, “Myself I shall adore” and the perennial favourite “Where’er you walk”

Semele promises to be fun night out and the perfect antidote to beat the mid-winter blues.

Performances will be held on Thursday 23 July 7.00pm, Friday 24 July 7.00pm, and Sunday 26 July 3.00pm in The Adam Concert Room, New Zealand School of Music
(Kelburn Campus), Culliford Drive, Gate 7, off Kelburn Parade, Wellington
Tickets are available at the door and cost $20 / $15 concessions
Bookings: opera@nzsm.ac.nz or 463-5233, ext 8960

ENDS

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