Semiramide

The day appointed by the gods when Queen Semiramide must give up her throne and choose a successor to rule Assyria, and marry Princess Azema, has arrived. At the great festival of Baal, the queen will declare who is to rule, and there will be a wedding and a coronation. But, Queen Semiramide falters. She knows who she wants to be the next king. It is not the malevolent and deceitful Prince Assur, although he thinks that their history has earned him the right. It also is not the kind-hearted Idreno, despite his honest and sincere love for Azema. No, she wants to crown the man she loves, Arsace, the commander of her army, but only if she rules by his side.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding King Nino’s death, 15 years before, give the priest Oroe cause for concern. He knows that unless the dead are resting peacefully, they will not stay buried. Putting his faith in the gods, he knows that the truth identity of those who poisoned the king and kidnapped his son and heir, Ninia, will be revealed at the appropriate time, and the right man will be crowned King of Assyria.

Rossini’s tragic opera, based on the legends surrounding Queen Semiramis, as they are brought to life in Voltaire’s play, is one which demonstrates Rossini’s incredible skill. Being probably as popular today as it was at its first performance in 1823, Semiramide is an excellent example of virtuosic bel canto vocal writing with some simply stunning arias and duets for the principal characters.

Sinfonia

Act One

Scene One - A magnificent temple to Belo (Baal), adorned for a festival

Introduction ‘Si, gran Nume, t’intesi’ - Oroe

Scene Two

‘Belo si celebri, Belo s’onori’ - Chorus, Idreno, Assur

Scene Three

‘Ah! Ti vediamo ancor!’ - Chorus, Semiramide, Oroe, Assur, Idreno, Azema

‘O tu de’ Magi’ - Semiramide, Oroe, Idreno, Assur, Chorus

Scene Four

‘Gli Dei son giusti’ - Oroe

Scene Five

‘Eccomi alfine in Babilonia’ and ‘Ah! Quel giorno ognor rammento’ - Arsace

Scene Six

‘Io t’attendeva, Arsace’ - Oroe, Arsace,

Scene Seven

‘Quali accenti! … e che mai’ - Assur, Arsace

Duet ‘Bella immago degli Dei’ - Arsace, Assur

Scene Eight - In the atrium of the palace

‘O me felice! … Arsace’ - Azema, Idreno

Aria ‘Ah! Dov’e, dov’e il cimento’ - Idreno

Scene Nine - Hanging Gardens

‘Serena i vaghi rai’ - Chorus

Cavatina ‘Bel raggio lusinghier’ - Semiramide

Scene Ten

‘Da Menfi il secro messo’ - Mitrane, Semiramide

Scene Eleven

‘Al tuo comando’ - Arsace, Semiramide

Duet ‘Serbami ognor si fido il cor’ - Semiramide, Arsace

Scene Twelve - In the Atrium

‘Oroe dal tempio nella reggia?’ - Assur, Oroe

Scene Thirteen (Finale) - A Magnificent place in the palace, with views of Babylon

‘Ergi omai la fronte altera’ - Chorus

‘I vostri voti omai’ - Semiramide, Assur, Arsace, Azema, Idreno, Oroe, Chorus

Act Two

Scene One - In the Atrium

‘All reggia d’intorno’ - Mitrane, Arbate

Scene Two

‘Ebben, Mitrane! - Semiramide, Mitrane

Scene Three

‘Assur, i cenni miei’ - Semiramide, Assur,

Duet ‘Se la vita t’e cara’ - Semiramide, Assur

Scene Four - Inside the Sanctuary

‘In questo augusto’ - Chorus of Magi, Oroe

‘Ebben, compiasi omai’ - Arsace, Oroe

Aria: ‘In si barbara sciagura’ - Arsace, Oroe, Chorus

Scene Five

‘Calmati, principessa’ - Mitrane, Azema

Scene Six

‘Arsace! - Giusto ciel!’ - Idreno, Azema, Chorus

Aria ‘La speranza piu soave’ - Idreno, Chorus

Scene Seven

‘No: non ti lascio’ - Semiramide, Arsace

Duet ‘Ebbene… a te, ferisci’ - Semiramide, Arsace

Scene Eight - Remote part of the palace, in the antique mausoleum of Nino

‘Il di già cade’ - Assur, Chorus, Varj Satrapi

Scene Nine

‘Eccomi - Ebbene!’ - Assur, Chorus, Satrapi

Aria - ‘Deh! Ti ferma… ti placa’ - Assur, Chorus

Scene Ten

‘Oh nero eccesso!’ - Mitrane, Arbate

Final Scene - Underneath the mausoleum of Nino

‘Un traditor, con empio ardir’ - Chorus, Nino, Oroe, Assur,