Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46217 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-05-12
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Blu-ray
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 155 minutes

Customer Reviews

Entertaining production of this great "opera"
I just got this DVD yesterday, it was released in Australia on the 5th of March.
I was a little sceptical about Cecilia Bartoli in the soprano role of Semele, but I have been pleasantly surprised and she does an excellent job in the role. Fans of Bartoli needn't hesitate for a moment. Charles Workman as Jupiter is very good and he makes for a very "hunky" Jupiter. I previously admired Workman in Minkowski's recording of Gluck's "Armide", Charles Workman sang the role of Renaud (Rinaldo).
Juno is sung by Birgit Remmert and Iris, by Isabel Rey, both provide great comic interaction. Thomas Michael Allen, singing the countertenor role of Athamas, seemed to be suitably gormless in the openning scenes.

William Christie does a fine job of directing the rather large period orchestra, the Orchestra La Scintilla, and his choice of tempi are natural and the work is well paced. I would have thought that a slightly smaller string section would have been better in some ways, but Orchestra La Scintilla does provide the cast and audience with a magnificent sound. It should be noted that Corelli, one of Handel's teachers, used much larger orchestras in his concerti grossi performances in Rome in the late 17th century. I think that Handel, if he was alive today, would be impressed with this orchestra.

The staging and sets look vaguely early to mid Twenthieth Century and wouldn't have been out of place in a production of The Merry Widow or La Belle Hélène, but that doesn't bother me at all in this production. The work was probably never intended for the stage and any stage production will be novel.

I have the John Eliot Gardiner recording on CD, which although is not entirely ideal, has entertained me for many years. However, I have no hesitation in recommending this new DVD recording to all lovers of opera and the art of Handel.

Very VERY disappointing - not a patch on ENO's original
Handel's Semele has some of the composer's most appealing music. And being set in English is totally accessible.

This imaginative, witty (and often laugh-out-loud funny) as well as dramatic telling of the story as performed originally by English National Opera with the wonderful Rosemary Josshua, John Mark Ainsley and sublime Susan Bickley was a total joy. The version nods a gentle wink at the Windsors and the tabloids which was totally captured by the English cast.

Sadly this DVD's ZURICH production with an international cast, dubious and irritating diction, and hopelessly inadequate old-fashioned 'operatic' (mugging and melodrama) acting simply doesn't understand or convey the wit and humour of the original. A complete let-down.

Why no original ENO DVD and Blu-ray? Why was the BBC televised version from ENO never transferred to this media? Come on BBC, release it (on Blu-ray please) so that we can all see and hear the stunning authentic Handel singing, and fine acting of Rosemary Josshua (as Semele), and the fantastic characterisation and singing of Susan Bickley (as Juno) to mention just two of the excellent cast. I'd buy it, and so, I'm sure, would anyone else who saw it. It's an English opera which genuinely benefits from an English interpretation.

In the meantime I'll ignore this Blu-ray purchase and go back to the next best thing - the glorious, spot on dazzling vocal performance from Kathleen Battle on CD.

An oratorio presented in operatic form
There is conjecture about this being an oratorio rather than an opera as it is based on an English opera libretto by Congreve. One train of thought suggests that, with opera waning in popularity, the oratorio form was needed for success to regain prosperity for the composer.
That said the Zurich performance is most definitely in operatic form but the result is strange at times with the chorus dressed up in dinner suits and evening gowns.
The plot uses mythology to illustrate that greed ultimately destroys the individual, in this case Semele sung by Cecilia Bartoli, who demanded immortality from Jupiter who had whisked her off to a specially built palace.
Bartoli is in fine singing voice and often outshines others in the cast. The oratorio style is often evident in the singing but this is not a somber work as there is comedy mixed with some bawdiness with Bartoli spending a lot of the time romping around in a nightdress.. So overall it is quite a different work which receives a unique presentation.
First class audio & video.
Regarded as one of Handel's masterpieces this production deserves a place in your collection.