Lyricist(s): Congreve, William
Choir(s): Junge Kantorei
Label: Naxos
Genre: Opera
Period: Baroque
Catalogue No: 8.570431-33
Barcode: 0747313043170
Release Date: 07/2008

HANDEL, G.: Semele [Oratorio] (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.

Tracklist

Disc 1
Handel, George Frideric
Congreve, William - Lyricist
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
1Act I: Overture05:11
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
2Act I: Gavotte02:23
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
3Act I: Accompagnato: Behold! Auspicious flashes rise (Chief Priest)01:26
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
4Act I: Lucky omens bless our rites (Chorus of Priests and Augurs)03:37
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
5Act I: Recitative and Arioso: Daughter, obey, Hear and obey! (Cadmus, Athamas)01:04
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
6Act I: Accompagnato and Aria: Ah me! What refuge now is left me? (Semele)02:54
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
7Act I: Aria: The morning lark to mine accords his note (Semele)06:28
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
8Act I: Aria: See, she blushing turns her eyes (Ino)03:56
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
9Act I: Recitative: Alas! She yields, and has undone me! (Ino, Athamas, Semele)00:58
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
10Act I: Quartet: Why dost thou thus untimely grieve (Cadmus, Ino, Athamas, Semele)02:17
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
11Act I: Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs! (Chorus of Priests and Augurs)02:15
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
12Act I: Accompagnato: Again auspicious flashes rise (Cadmus)00:48
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
13Act I: Recitative: Thy aid, pronubial Juno, Athamas implores! (Athamas, Semele)00:19
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
14Act I: Cease, cease your vows, 'tis impious to proceed (Chorus of Priests and Augurs)00:40
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
15Act I: Recitative: O Athamas, what torture hast thou borne! (Athamas)00:30
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
16Act I: Aria: Turn, hopeless lover, turn thy eye (Ino)08:42
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
17Act I: Recitative: She weeps! (Athamas)00:27
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
18Act I: Aria: Your tuneful voice my tale would tell (Athamas)03:53
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
19Act I: Recitative: Too well I see, Thou wilt not understand me (Ino, Athamas)00:57
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
20Act I: Duet: You've undone me (Ino, Athamas)02:21
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
21Act I: Recitative and Accompagnato: Ah, wretched prince, doom'd to disastrous love! (Cadmus, Athamas, Ino)02:32
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
22Act I: Hail, Cadmus, hail! Jove salutes the Theban King (Chorus of Priests and Augurs)01:58
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
23Act I: Aria: Endless pleasure, endless love (Semele)02:54
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
24Act I: Endless pleasure, endless love (Chorus of Love and Zephyrs)01:46
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
Disc 2
1Act II: Symphony01:49
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
2Act II: Recitative: Iris, impatient of thy stay (Juno, Iris)01:05
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
3Act II: Aria: There, from mortal cares retiring (Iris)02:59
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
4Act II: Recitative and Accompagnato: No more, I'll hear no more! (Juno, Iris)02:26
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
5Act II: Aria: Hence, Iris, hence away! (Juno)03:53
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
6Act II: Aria: Come, Zephyrs, come (Cupid)06:03
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
7Act II: Aria: O sleep, why dost thou leave me? (Semele)02:47
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
8Act II: Recitative: Let me not another moment bear the pangs of absence (Semele)00:22
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
9Act II: Aria: Lay your doubts and fears aside (Jupiter)03:07
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
10Act II: Recitative: You are mortal and require time to rest (Jupiter)00:34
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
11Act II: Aria: With fond desiring (Semele)03:34
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
12Act II: How engaging, how endearing (Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs)02:46
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
13Act II: Recitative: Ah me! (Semele, Jupiter)01:36
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
14Act II: Aria: I must with speed amuse her (Jupiter)04:04
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
15Act II: Now Love, that everlasting boy (Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs)02:32
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
16Act II: Recitative: By my command now (Jupiter, Semele)01:33
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
17Act II: Aria: Where'er you walk (Jupiter)03:28
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
18Act II: Recitative: Dear sister, how was your passage hither? (Semele, Ino)00:47
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
19Act II: Aria: But hark! (Ino)01:30
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
20Act II: Accompagnato and Arioso: Prepare then, ye immortal choir (Ino, Semele)02:06
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
21Act II: Bless the glad earth with heav'nly lays (Chorus of Nymphs and Swains)02:39
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
Disc 3
1Act III: Symphony01:53
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
2Act III: Accompagnato: Somnus, awake! (Juno, Iris)00:32
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
3Act III: Aria: Leave me, loathsome light! (Somnus)03:07
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
4Act III: Recitative: Dull God, canst thou attend the water's fall (Iris, Juno)00:35
Schmidt, Julla (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
5Act III: Aria: More sweet is that name (Somnus)02:19
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
6Act III: Recitative: My will obey (Juno, Somnus)01:26
Markert, Annette (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
7Act III: Duet: Obey my will (Juno, Somnus)01:59
Markert, Annette (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
8Act III: Aria: My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed (Semele)03:15
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
9Act III: Recitative: Thus shap'd like Ino (Juno, Semele)01:08
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
10Act III: Accompagnato: Behold in this mirror (Juno)02:56
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
11Act III: Recitative: O ecstasy of happiness! (Semele)00:13
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
12Act III: Aria: Myself I shall adore (Semele)06:47
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
13Act III: Recitative: Be wise, as you are beautiful (Juno, Semele)00:30
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
14Act III: Accompagnato: Conjure him by his oath (Juno)01:27
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
15Act III: Aria: Thus let my thanks be pay'd (Semele)02:18
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
16Act III: Recitative: Rich odours fill the fragrant air (Juno, Semele)00:36
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
17Act III: Aria: Come to my arms, my lovely fair (Jupiter)03:02
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
18Act III: Recitative: O Semele! Why art thou thus insensible? (Jupiter, Semele)01:39
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
19Act III: Recitative: Speak, speak your desire (Jupiter, Semele)01:20
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
20Act III: Aria: Ah! Take heed what you press! (Jupiter)01:16
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
21Act III: Aria: No, no, I'll take no less (Semele)05:28
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
22Act III: Recitative: Ah, whither is she gone! (Jupiter)02:57
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
23Act III: Aria: Above measure is the pleasure (Juno)02:40
Markert, Annette (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
24Act III: Recitative: Ah me! Too late I now repent (Semele)03:02
Scholl, Elisabeth (soprano)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
25Act III: Recitative: Of my ill-boding dream (Ino)00:18
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
26Act III: Chorus: Oh, terror and astonishment! (Chorus of Priests)03:05
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
27Act III: Recitative: How I was hence remov'd (Ino, Cadmus, Athamas)00:53
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Schwarz, Britta (alto)
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
28Act III: Aria: Despair no more shall wound me (Athamas)05:25
Popken, Ralf (counter-tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
29Act III: Recitative: See from above the bellying clouds descend (Cadmus)00:19
Mertens, Klaus (bass)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
30Act III: Symphony02:10
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
31Act III: Recitative: Apollo comes, to relieve your care (Apollo)01:06
Schoch, Knut (tenor)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)
32Act III: Happy, happy shall we be (Chorus)03:48
Junge Kantorei (Choir)
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra)
Martini, Joachim Carlos (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 03:01:25