Semele

Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Germany

Scene 1 from the opera "Semele", photo 2

Scene 3 from the opera "Semele", photo 3

Scene 4 from the opera "Semele", photo 4

All photos (4)

Select date and time

6 PM

From

US$ 100

View Tickets

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Munich, Germany

Starts at: 18:00

Acts: 2

Intervals: 1

Duration: 2h 30min

Sung in: English

Titles in: English,German

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

Cast

Performers

Orchestra: Bavarian State Orchestra

Chorus: Chorus of the Bavarian State Opera

Countertenor: Jakub Józef Orlinski

Tenor: Michael Spyres

Conductor: Leonardo García-Alarcón

Mezzo-Soprano: Avery Amereau

Choir: Franz Obermair

Soprano: Jessica Niles

Soprano: Louise Alder

Mezzo-Soprano: Marina Viotti

Baritone: Michael Butler

Baritone: Roman Chabaranok

Bass: Sam Carl

Creators

Composer: George Frideric Handel

Dramaturge: Christopher Warmuth

Director: Claus Guth

Costume designer: Gesine Völlm

Light: Michael Bauer

Sets: Michael Levine

Choreography: Ramses Sigl

Video designer: rocafilm

Librettist: William Congreve

Dramaturge: Yvonne Gebauer

Overview

Semele is a dazzling opera that blends myth, desire, and divine power into a richly expressive musical drama. Set in the world of Greek mythology, it tells the story of the mortal Semele and her fatal love affair with Jupiter, king of the gods. With its virtuosic arias, emotional depth, and moments of both wit and tragedy, this production at the Bavarian State Opera offers a visually striking and musically refined interpretation of Handel’s masterpiece.

George Frideric Handel’s Semele is a unique operatic work that fuses the grandeur of Baroque music with the theatrical intensity of mythological storytelling. Often described as an “English opera,” the piece unfolds the tragic tale of Semele, a mortal woman whose ambition and desire for divine love lead her toward destruction.

At the heart of the story lies Semele’s passionate affair with Jupiter, the king of the gods, who disguises himself as a mortal to be with her. As Semele becomes increasingly consumed by vanity and the longing for immortality, she is manipulated by the jealous Juno, Jupiter’s wife. Through deception, Juno convinces Semele to demand that Jupiter reveal himself in his full divine form—an act no mortal can survive. The result is both inevitable and devastating, as Semele is consumed by the very power she desired.

This production at the Bavarian State Opera highlights the psychological complexity of the characters while embracing the sensuality, irony, and brilliance of Handel’s score. The staging combines elegant Baroque aesthetics with modern theatrical elements, creating a vivid and emotionally charged experience. Renowned for its exquisite vocal writing, Semele features a series of celebrated arias, including “Where’er you walk” and “Myself I shall adore,” showcasing both lyrical beauty and dramatic virtuosity.

Balancing moments of humor with profound tragedy, Semele explores themes of ambition, identity, and the dangerous allure of transcendence. In this interpretation, audiences are invited into a world where human vulnerability meets divine power, resulting in a timeless and deeply moving operatic journey.

History

Premiere of this production: 10 February 1744, Covent Garden Theatre, London

Semele is a 'musical drama', originally presented "after the manner of an oratorio", in three parts by George Frideric Handel. Based on a pre-existent opera libretto by William Congreve, the work is an opera in all but name but was first presented in concert form at Covent Garden theatre on 10 February 1744. The story comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses and concerns Semele, mother of Bacchus. Handel also referred to the work as 'The Story of Semele'.

Synopsis

Jupiter, King of the gods, takes the mortal Princess Semele to a secret hiding place on a mountain to be his mistress. When Jupiter's wife, Juno, hears of her husband's adultery she is enraged, and plots to ensure Semele's downfall. In disguise, Juno appeals to the girl's vanity and persuades her to insist on seeing her lover in his divine form. Jupiter reluctantly agrees but his thunderbolts burn and consume Semele. From her ashes, though, arise her unborn child by Jupiter—Bacchus, god of wine and ecstasy.

Act 1
Scene: Greece, in legendary antiquity

The scene is the temple of Juno. Near the altar is a golden image of the goddess

In the temple of Juno, Cadmus, King of Thebes, is preparing for the marriage of his daughter Semele to Athamas, Prince of Boeotia. Signs from the goddess indicate she approves of the match (Accompanied recitative: Behold! Auspicious flashes rise and chorus: Lucky omens bless our rites.) However, the bride has been inventing one excuse after the other to put off the wedding and her father and would-be bridegroom urge her to hesitate no longer (Duet: Daughter, hear! Hear and obey!) To herself, Semele reflects on her dilemma—she does not wish to marry Prince Athamas as she is in love with Jove himself and calls on him to assist her (Accompanied recitative: Ah me!What refuge now is left me?, arioso: O Jove! In pity teach me which to choose and aria: The morning lark). Athamas, observing her, takes her physical signs of emotional upheaval as evidence she is in love with him (Aria: Hymen, haste, thy torch prepare). Ino, Semele's sister, now appears, also in a state of distress as she is in love with Athamas (Quartet: Why dost thou thus untimely grieve?) Jupiter has heard Semele's prayer and his thunderbolts interrupt the proceedings and alarm the observers (Chorus: Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs). The priests of Juno order the wedding abandoned and everyone to leave the temple (Chorus: Cease, cease your vows), which all do except for Athamas, in despair at his wedding being cancelled, and Ino, hopelessly in love with him (Aria: Turn, hopeless lover). Athamas can see she is upset, without guessing why, and he can feel for her in her distress because he is upset too (Aria: Your tuneful voice my tale would tell). Athamas is astonished when she tells him bluntly that she loves him (Duet: You've undone me). Cadmus interrupts their confusion and describes the extraordinary event he has just witnessed: as they fled the temple Semele was suddenly carried off by an eagle (Accompanied recitative: Wing'd with our fears). The priests and augurs identify this eagle as Jupiter himself (Chorus: Hail Cadmus, hail!). As the act ends, Semele is seen enjoying her role as the god's new mistress (Aria: Endless pleasure, endless love).

Act 2
Scene One

A pleasant country, the prospect terminated by a beautiful mountain adorn'd with woods and waterfalls. Juno and Iris descend in different machines. Juno in a chariot drawn by peacocks; Iris on a rainbow; they alight and meet.

Juno, suspicious of her husband's conduct, has sent her helper Iris to find out what she can. Iris reports that Jove has installed Semele as his mistress in a palace atop a mountain (Aria: There, from mortal cares retiring). The outraged Juno swears to have revenge (Accompanied recitative: Awake, Saturnia, from thy lethargy!). Iris warns her it will not be an easy task—the palace is guarded by dragons that never sleep (Accompanied recitative: With adamant the gates are barr'd). Juno decides that she and Iris will pay a visit to the god of sleep in his cave, in order to get magical assistance to put the dragons to sleep (Aria:Hence, Iris, hence away).

Scene Two

An apartment in the palace of Semele. She is sleeping, Loves and Zephyrs waiting.

Semele awakes and regrets that the dream she was having of being with her lover has ended (Aria: O sleep, why dost thou leave me?). When Jupiter enters, in the form of a young man, she tells him how difficult it is for her when he is absent. He explains that she is a mortal, unlike him, and needs to rest from their love-making from time to time. He attempts to assure her of his fidelity (Aria: Lay your doubts and fears aside). Semele sings of her passionate love for him (Aria: With fond desiring). The chorus of Loves and Zephyrs sing of lovers' joys (Chorus: How engaging, how endearing). Semele, however, is beginning to be unhappy that her lover is a god and she a mere mortal. This sign of an ambition to immortality from Semele worries Jupiter who decides he must distract her from such thoughts (Aria: I must with speed amuse her). The Loves and Zephyrs advise Semele to put aside worries and enjoy the delights of love while she can (Chorus: Now Love that everlasting boy invites). Jupiter has arranged for Semele's sister Ino to be magically transported to the palace, to keep her company, and promises that the gardens and environs will be paradise (Aria: Where'er you walk). He leaves, and Ino appears, describing the wondrous experience of being flown there by winged zephyrs (Aria: But hark, the heav'nly sphere turns round). The sisters sing of the joy they are experiencing, hearing the music of the spheres (Duet: Prepare then, ye immortal choir) and nymphs and swains declare that this part of the earth has become a heaven (Chorus: Bless the glad earth).

Act 3
Scene One

The Cave of Sleep. The God of Sleep lying on his bed.

Juno and Iris arrive and wake Somnus (Accompanied recitative:Somnus, awake), to his displeasure (Aria: Leave me, loathsome light). He only gets out of bed when he hears Juno mention the beautiful nymph Pasithea (Aria: More sweet is that name). Juno promises he will have the nymph if he will lend her magical aid to put the dragons that guard the palace where Semele is ensconced as her husband's mistress to sleep and transform her into the likeness of Semele's sister Ino. Somnus agrees (Duet: Obey my will).

Scene Two

An Apartment. Semele alone

Semele is still feeling rather unhappy about the discrepancy between herself and her lover (Aria: My racking thoughts). Juno, in the form of Semele's sister Ino, enters and feigns astonishment at Semele's increased beauty. She exclaims that Semele must have become a goddess herself and gives her a mirror (Behold in this mirror). Semele is enraptured by her own beauty (Aria: Myself I shall adore). "Ino" advises Semele to insist that Jupiter appear to her in his real, godlike form, and that will make her immortal herself (Accompanied recitative: Conjure him by his oath). Semele is very grateful for this advice (Aria: Thus let my thanks be paid). "Ino" leaves and Jupiter enters, eager to enjoy Semele (Aria: Come to my arms, my lovely fair) but she puts him off (Aria: I ever am granting). He swears to give her whatever she desires (Accompanied recitative: By that tremendous flood, I swear) and she makes him promise to appear to her in his godlike form (Accompanied recitative: Then cast off this human shape). He is alarmed and says that would harm her (Aria: Ah, take heed what you press), but she insists he keep his oath (Aria: No, no, I'll take no less) and leaves. Jupiter knows this will mean her destruction and mourns her impending doom (Accompanied recitative: Ah, whither is she gone). Juno triumphs in the success of her scheme (Aria: Above measure is the pleasure).

Scene Three

The scene discovers Semele under a canopy, leaning pensively, while a mournful symphony is playing. She looks up and sees Jupiter descending in a cloud; flashes of lightning issue from either side, and thunder is heard grumbling in the air.

Semele, granted her wish to see Jupiter in his true godlike form, is consumed by his thunderbolts, and as she dies she regrets her own foolishness and ambition (Accompanied recitative: Ah me! Too late I now repent). Watching this, the priests of Juno express their amazement (Chorus: Oh, terror and astonishment!). Athamas is now glad to accept Ino as his bride (Aria: Despair no more shall wound me). The god Apollo descends on a cloud and announces that the unborn child of Semele and Jupiter will arise from her ashes (Accompanied recitative: Apollo comes, to relieve your care). The child will be Bacchus, god of wine and ecstasy, a god "more mighty than love". All celebrate the fortunate outcome (Chorus: Happy, happy shall we be).

Venue Info

Bavarian State Opera - Munich
Max-Joseph-Platz 2

The Bavarian State Opera or the National Theatre (Nationaltheater) on Max-Joseph-Platz in Munich, Germany, is a historic opera house and the main theatre of Munich, home of the Bavarian State Opera, Bavarian State Orchestra, and the Bavarian State Ballet.

During its early years, the National Theatre saw the premières of a significant number of operas, including many by German composers. These included Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (1865), Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868), Das Rheingold (1869) and Die Walküre (1870), after which Wagner chose to build the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth and held further premières of his works there.

During the latter part of the 19th century, it was Richard Strauss who would make his mark on the theatre in the city in which he was born in 1864. After accepting the position of conductor for a short time, Strauss returned to the theatre to become principal conductor from 1894 to 1898. In the pre-War period, his Friedenstag (1938) and Capriccio were premièred in Munich. In the post-War period, the house has seen significant productions and many world premieres.

First theatre – 1818 to 1823
The first theatre was commissioned in 1810 by King Maximilian I of Bavaria because the nearby Cuvilliés Theatre had too little space. It was designed by Karl von Fischer, with the 1782 Odéon in Paris as architectural precedent. Construction began on 26 October 1811 but was interrupted in 1813 by financing problems. In 1817 a fire occurred in the unfinished building.

The new theatre finally opened on 12 October 1818 with a performance of Die Weihe by Ferdinand Fränzl, but was soon destroyed by another fire on 14 January 1823; the stage décor caught fire during a performance of Die beyden Füchse by Étienne Méhul and the fire could not be put out because the water supply was frozen. Coincidentally the Paris Odéon itself burnt down in 1818.

Second theatre – 1825 to 1943
Designed by Leo von Klenze, the second theatre incorporated Neo-Grec features in its portico and triangular pediment and an entrance supported by Corinthian columns. In 1925 it was modified to create an enlarged stage area with updated equipment. The building was gutted in an air raid on the night of 3 October 1943.

Third theatre – 1963 to present
The third and present theatre (1963) recreates Karl von Fischer's original neo-classical design, though on a slightly larger, 2,100-seat scale. The magnificent royal box is the center of the interior rondel, decorated with two large caryatids. The new stage covers 2,500 square meters (3,000 sq yd), and is thus the world's third largest, after the Opéra Bastille in Paris and the Grand Theatre, Warsaw.

Through the consistent use of wood as a building material, the auditorium has excellent acoustics. Architect Gerhard Moritz Graubner closely preserved the original look of the foyer and main staircase. It opened on 21 November 1963 with an invitation-only performance of Die Frau ohne Schatten under the baton of Joseph Keilberth. Two nights later came the first public performance, of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, again under Keilberth.