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This is the second Handel opera on the Chaconne label from the Early Opera Company conducted by Christian Curnyn, described by The Times as ‘our finest young Handelian’. The first opera, Partenope, was released to glowing reviews in 2005. Rosemary Joshua in the title role is a noted Handel performer and has sung the role of Semele at English National Opera, Grange Park and Aix-en-Provence. She is joined by Hilary Summers and Gail Pearson together with Brindley Sherratt, Richard Croft and Stephen Wallace. After the performance at Grange Park in 2006 The Guardian reviewer commented: ‘with singing as entrancing as this, time just seemed to fly by. I look forward to the recording.’
With Rosemary Joshua’s enchantingly ditzy heroine, Richard Croft’s romantic Jupiter and Hilary Summers as Ino/Juno, this is the most complete and idiomatically sung account on disc of Handel’s closet English Opera – Sunday Times ‘Disc of the Year 2007’
In the title role, soprano Rosemary Joshua applies light and graceful tone and conveys Smemle’s willful, pleasure-seeking nature. As her immortal lover Jupiter, tenor Richard Croft is equally lucid and nimble. – BBC Music Magazine
Chandos’s new entrant is the first early-instrument Semele to be recorded absolutely complete… Thanks no doubt to stage experience as Semele, Rosemary Joshua brings irresistible unforced charm to her every scene. There is character in even the smallest phrases…Chandos provides clear, natural sound. – International Record Review
Christian Curnyn understands the unique tinta of this gorgeous score, and directs his spruce period band with a nice blend of nonchalant elegance and dramatic energy. Tempi are shrewdly judged, rhythms light and supple, and recitatives tumble inevitably into arias…. As at the English National opera, rosemary Joshua, radiant of tone, dazzling coloratura, makes Semele far more than an over-sexed airhead… this becomes a clear first choice for an ever enticing work. – Gramophone
It is superbly sung by the tenor Robert Croft, easily the most sensuous of all recorded Jupiters, while Rosemary Joshua is captivating as Semele – her diamaninte tone and dazzling coloratura technique making nimble work of her gorgeous arias… A must for Handelians, and anyone who doesn’t know one of his most life-enhancing masterpieces. – The Sunday Times
Rosemary Joshua has established herself as one of the foremost interpreters of the role of Semele, the charming, dizzy-headed mortal who falls in love with the king of the gods. She excels at the fearsome coloratura, the warm lyricism, and the sheer fizz of the role. All this comes across in conductor Christian Curnyn’s recording, and there‘s some beautiful support from Richard Croft as Jupiter and counter tenor Stephen Wallce as Semele’s financé Athamus – Classic FM
An obligatory set for Handelians – Goldberg 50
…this new recording becomes the prime recommendation for Handel’s hedonistic masterpiece. – Telegraph Classical CD of the Week
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