Semele

Tracklist

CD 1

1. SEMELE, Oratorio in Three Acts, HWV 58 - No. 1. Ouverture. [ ] -2:33
2. No. 1. Allegro - Adagio -3:41
3. No. 1. Gavotte1:29
4. ACT I. Scene 1. No. 2. Accompagnato (Cadmus): Behold! auspicious flashes rise!1:23
5. Scene 1. No. 3. Chorus: Lucky omens bless our rites3:14
6. Scene 1. No. 4. Recitative and Arioso (Cadmus, Athamus): Daughter, obey0:55
7. Scene 1. No. 5. Accompagnato & Air (Semele): Ah me! What refuge now is left me? ... O Jove! in pity teach me which to choose2:42
8. Scene 1. No. 6. Air (Semele): The morning lark to mine accords his note7:25
9. Scene 1. No. 7. Recitative (Athamus): See, she blushing turns her eyes0:16
10. Scene 1. No. 8. Air (Athamus): Hymen, haste, thy torch prepare4:45
11. Scene 1. No. 9. Recitative (Ino, Athamus, Semele): Alas! she yields0:41
12. Scene 1. No. 10. Quartet (Cadmus, Ino, Athamus, Semele): Why does thou thus untimely grieve3:03
13. Scene 1. No. 11. Chorus: Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs!2:00
14. Scene 1. No. 12. Accompagnato (Cadmus): Again auspicious flashes rise0:38
15. Scene 1. No. 13. Recitative (Athamus, Semele): Thy aid, pronubial Juno, Athamus implores0:13
16. Scene 1. No. 14. Chorus: Cease, cease your vows, 'tis impious to proceed0:32
17. Scene 2. No. 15. Recitative (Athamus): O Athamus, what torture hast thou borne!0:28
18. Scene 2. No. 16. Air (Ino): Turn, hopeless lover, turn thy eyes8:01
19. Scene 2. No. 17. Recitative (Athamus): She weeps! The gentle maid, in tender pity0:17
20. Scene 2. No. 18. Air (Athamus): Your tuneful voice my tale would tell3:50
21. Scene 2. No. 19. Recitative (Ino, Athamus): Too well I see0:42
22. Scene 2. No. 20. Duet (Ino, Athamus): You've undone me / With my life I would atone2:26
23. Scene 3, 4. No. 21. Recit. (Cadmus, Athamas): Ah, wretched Prince - Accomp. (Cadmus): Wing'd with our fears - Recit. (Athamas, Ino): O prodigy - Scene 4. Recit. Cadmus): See, see, Jove's Priests2:08
24. Scene 4. No. 22. Chorus: Hail, Cadmus, hail! Jove salutes the Theban King1:29
25. Scene 4. No. 23. Air (Semele) and Chorus: Endless pleasure, endless love4:53

CD 2

1. ACT II. No. 24. Sinfonia. Presto1:36
2. Scene 1. No. 25. Recitative (Juno, Iris): Iris, impatient of thy stay0:47
3. Scene 1. No. 26. Air (Iris): There, from mortal cares retiring3:40
4. Scene 1. No. 27. Recitative & Accompagnato (Juno, Iris): No more - I'll hear no more ... Awake Saturnia from thy lethargy!2:05
5. Scene 1. No. 28. Air (Juno): Hence, Iris, hence away - Scene 2. No. 29. Air (Cupid): Come, Zephyrus, come3:51
6. Scene 2. No. 30. Air (Semele): O sleep, why dost thou leave me?2:54
7. Scene 3. No. 31. Recitative (Semele): Let me not another moment0:20
8. Scene 3. No. 32. Air (Jupiter): Lay your doubts and fears aside3:07
9. Scene 3. No. 33. Recitative (Jupiter): You are mortal, and require0:17
10. Scene 3. No. 34. Air (Semele): With fond desiring3:21
11. Scene 3. No. 35. Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs: How engaging, how endearing3:03
12. Scene 3. No. 36. Recitative (Semele, Jupiter): Ah me! / Why sighs my Semele?1:07
13. Scene 3. No. 37. Air (Jupiter): I must with speed amuse her3:57
14. Scene 3. No. 38. Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs: Now Love that everlasting boy invites2:21
15. Scene 3. No. 39. Recitative (Jupiter, Semele): By my command1:03
16. Scene 3. No. 40. Air (Jupiter): Where'er you walk4:56
17. Scene 4. No. 41. Recitative (Semele. Ino): Dear sister, how was your passage hither?0:40
18. Scene 4. No. 42. Air (Ino): But hark! the heav'nly sphere turns round2:26
19. Scene 4. No. 43. Duet (Ino & Semele): Prepare then, ye immortal choir1:57
20. Scene 4. No. 44. Chorus of Nymphs and Swains: Bless the glad earth with heav'nly lays2:45

CD 3

1. ACT III. No. 45. Sinfonia. Larghetto e piano per tutto1:29
2. Scene 1. No. 46. Accompagnato (Juno, Iris): Somnus, awake0:31
3. Scene 1. No. 47. Air (Somnus): Leave me, loathsome light3:26
4. Scene 1. No. 48. Recitative (Iris, Juno): Dull God, canst thou attends the water's fall0:30
5. Scene 1. No. 49. Air (Somnus): More sweet is that name2:26
6. Scene 1. No. 50. Recitative (Juno, Somnus): My will obey, she shall be thine1:15
7. Scene 1. No. 51. Duet (Juno, Somnus): Obey my will, thy rod resign1:58
8. Scene 2. No. 52. Air (Semele): My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed2:42
9. Scene 3. No. 53. Recitative (Juno, Semele): Thus shap'd like Ino1:25
10. Scene 3. No. 54. Air (Semele): Myself I shall adore7:16
11. Scene 3. No. 55. Recitative (Juno, Semele): Be wise, as you are beautiful - Accompagnato (Juno): Conjure him by his oath1:48
12. Scene 3. No. 56. Air (Semele): Thus let my thanks be paid2:19
13. Scene 3. No. 57. Recitative (Juno, Semele): Rich odours fill the fragrant air0:23
14. Scene 4. No. 58. Air (Jupiter): Come to my arms, my lovely fair2:51
15. Scene 4. No. 59. Recitative (Jupiter): O Semele! Why art thou thus insensible?0:06
16. Scene 4. No. 60. Air (Semele): I ever am granting1:35
17. Scene 4. No. 61. Recitative (Jupiter, Semele): Speak, speak your desire - Accompagnato (Jupiter): By that tremendous flood, I swear0:37
18. Scene 4. No. 62. Recitative (Semele, Jupiter): You'll grant what I require0:10
19. Scene 4. No. 63. Accompagnato (Semele): Then cast off this human shape which you wear0:16
20. Scene 4. No. 64. Air (Jupiter): Ah, take heed what you press1:15
21. Scene 4. No. 65. Air (Semele): No, no! I'll take no less5:12
22. Scene 5. No. 66. Accompagnato (Jupiter): Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy fair!3:05
23. Scene 6. No. 67. Air (Juno): Above measure is the pleasure2:23
24. Scene 7. No. 68. Accompagnato (Semele): Ah me! too late I now repent3:07
25. Scene 8. No. 69. Recitative (Ino): Off my ill-boding dream0:12
26. Scene 8. No. 70. Chorus of Priests: O terror and astonishment!4:00
27. Scene 8. No. 71. Recitative (Ino, Cadmus, Athamus): How I was hence remov'd0:42
28. Scene 8. No. 72. Air (Athamus): Despair no more shall wound me5:07
29. Scene 8. No. 73. Recitative (Cadmus): See from above the bellying clouds descend0:14
30. Scene 9. No. 74. Sinfonia1:19
31. Scene 9. No. 75. Accompagnato (Apollo): Apollo comes to relieve your care0:43
32. Scene 9. No. 76. Chorus (all): Happy, happy shall we be3:07