Handel: Semele

Elisabeth Scholl (Semele), Julla Schmidt (Iris), Ralf Popken (Athamas), Britta Schwarz (Ino), Annette Markert (Juno), Knut Schoch (Apollo), Klaus Mertens (Cadmus/Somnus/Priest)

Junge Kantorei & Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Joachim Carlos Martini

Handel’s oratorio Semele was composed in 1743 and tells of a beautiful mortal (Semele), whose short but spectacular love affair with Jupiter, King of the Gods, comes to a terrifying end in consequence of both her own vanity and the scheming of Jupiter’s insanely jealous wife Juno. Written at the peak of Handel’s powers, it is crammed with his most sparkling and dramatic music: spectacular orchestral numbers and powerful choruses combine with heart-stopping arias, including the popular Where’er you walk and the coloratura showpiece Myself I shall adore.

2010

There are many pleasures to be had...given a generally enjoyable performance, stylishly accompanied by the excellent Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra...Elisabeth Scholl's dashing coloratura in the name role certainly carries the part, and she is delightful in her portrayal of the morning lark...She gets appealing support from the other female participants...Knut Schoch has a fine, resonant tenor voice as Jupiter