Semele

Act One - The Temple of Juno, Thebes

Cadmus, the King of Thebes, has arranged for his daughter Semele to marry Prince Athamas of Boeotia. The time has come for their wedding celebration, and everyone is in attendance at the Temple of Juno for such an auspicious event. They have lit the sacred fire and the flames tell them that this union is blessed by Juno, the goddess of marriage (‘Behold! Auspicious flames arise’).

But this is far from a happy occasion for Semele (‘Ah me! What refuge is now left me?’). She has no desire at all to marry this stranger, and has actually been in a secret relationship with the god Jupiter. She desperately calls for Jupiter’s help to get out of this situation (‘O Jove! In pity teach me’). Athamas mistakes Semele’s sighs to be a sign of her deep desire to be his wife, and he continues the wedding rituals by calling on the god Hymen to bring his torch and bless their marriage bed (‘Hymen, haste!’).

Meanwhile, the whole event is watched by Semele’s younger