Julian Perkins, Academy of Ancient Music - John Eccles: Semele (2021)

Academy of Ancient Music, Cambridge Handel Opera Company, Cambridge Early Music and Julian Perkins are proud to present the first professional recording of John Eccless Semele (c.1707), a notable early setting of the great English libretto by William Congreve better known in a version by GF Handel from 1744. Academy of Ancient Musics mission is to explore, reveal and preserve the great treasure house of baroque and classical music, and a spirit of newfound discovery runs through all our work. Eccless Semele is the next step on this journey, released here on 2 albums an extensive accompanying full-color booklet containing scholarly essays, Stephen Frys modern re-telling of the story, autograph manuscript images of Eccles score, the full libretto text and much more. A fascinating insight into how opera in England might have developed after Henry Purcells death had not Handel moved to London in 1712, Eccless Semele is the perfect addition to any baroque-music lovers library.

Performer:
Gods:
Jupiter, King of the Gods – Richard Burkhard
Juno, Queen of the Gods – Helen Charlston
Iris, handmaid to Juno – Héloïse Bernard
Cupid, God of Love – Bethany Horak-Hallett
Somnus, God of Sleep – Christopher Foster
Apollo, Sun God and God of Prophecy – Jolyon Loy
Mortals:
Cadmus, King of Thebes – Jonathan Brown
Semele, daughter of Cadmus – Anna Dennis
Ino, sister of Semele – Aoife Miskelly
Athamas, a prince of Bœotia – William Wallace
Chief Priest – Graeme Broadbent
Second Priest / First Augur – Rory Carver
Third Priest / Second Augur – James Rhoads
Academy of Ancient Music
Julian Perkins, director

Track List:
CD1:
01. Overture [Largo – Allegro]
ACT I
Scene 1
02. Recitative (Chief Priest): Behold auspicious Flashes rise
03. Aria (2nd Priest & Chief Priest): Lucky Omens bless our Rites
04. Recitative (Cadmus & Athamas): Daughter, obey, Hear, and obey
05. Aria (Semele): Ah me! What Refuge now is left me?
06. Aria (Athamas): See, she blushing turns her Eyes
07. Aria (Athamas): Hymen haste, thy Torch prepare
08. Recitative (Ino, Athamas & Semele): Alas! She yields, and has undone me
09. Quartet (Cadmus, Ino, Athamas & Semele): Why dost thou thus untimely grieve?
10. Symphony
11. Recitative (Chief Priest): Avert these Omens, all ye Pow’rs!
12. Trio (Chief Priest, 2nd & 3rd Priests): Avert these Omens, all ye Pow’rs!
13. Recitative (Chief Priest, 2nd Priest, Athamas & Semele): Again auspicious Flashes rise
14. Symphony
15. Recitative Chief Priest Cease your Vows
Scene 2
16. Recitative (Athamas): O Athamas, what Torture hast thou born!
17. Aria (Ino): Turn, hopeless Lover, turn thy Eyes
18. Recitative (Athamas): She weeps!
19. Aria (Athamas): Such unavailing Mercy is in Beauty found
20. Recitative (Ino & Athamas): Ah me, too much afflicted!
21. Duet (Ino & Athamas): You’ve undone me
Scene 3
22. Recitative (Cadmus, Athamas & Ino): Ah, wretched Prince, doom’d to disastrous Love!
Scene 4
23. Recitative (Cadmus): See, see, Jove’s Priests and holy Augurs come
24. Trio (Chief Priest, 1st & 2nd Augurs): Hail, Cadmus, hail!
25. Aria (1st Augur): Endless Pleasure, endless Love
26. Aria (Chief Priest): Haste, haste, to Sacrifice prepare
27. Chorus (Priests & Augurs): Cease your Mourning
ACT II
Scene 1
28. Symphony
29. Recitative (Juno & Iris): Iris, impatient of thy Stay
30. Aria (Iris): There from mortal Cares retiring
31. Aria (Iris): Thither Flora the Fair
32. Recitative (Juno): No more – I’ll hear no more
33. Aria (Juno): Not one of curst Agenor’s Race I’ll spare
34. Recitative (Iris & Juno): Hear, mighty Queen
Scene 2
35. Aria (Cupid): See, after the Toils of an amorous Fight
36. Aria (Cupid): Come Zephyrs, come, while Cupid sings
37. Aire: Dance of the Zephyrs
38. Aria (Semele): O Sleep, why dost thou leave me?
Scene 3
39. Aria (Cupid): Sleep forsaking
40. Recitative (Semele): Let me not another Moment
41. Aria (Jupiter): Lay thy Doubts and Fears aside
42. Recitative (Jupiter): Nor was I absent
43. Aria (Semele) If cheerful Hopes
44. Duet (Semele & Jupiter): If this be Love, not you alone
45. Recitative (Semele & Jupiter): Ah me! / Why sighs my Semele?
46. Aria (Semele): With my Frailty don’t upbraid me
47. Recitative (Jupiter & Semele): Thy Sex of Jove’s the Masterpiece
48. Aria (Jupiter): Thy needless Fears remove
49. Recitative (Jupiter & Semele): By my Command
Scene 4
50. Symphony
CD2:
ACT III
Scene 1
01. Symphony [Adagio – Presto]
02. Recitative (Juno & Iris): Somnus, awake
03. Aria (Somnus): Leave me, loathsome Light
04. Recitative (Iris & Juno): Dull God, can’st thou attend the Waters fall
05. Duet (Juno & Iris): Only Love on Sleep has Pow’r
06. Recitative (Juno): Somnus, arise
07. Aria (Somnus): More sweet is that Name
08. Recitative (Juno & Somnus): My Will obey
09. Duet (Juno & Somnus): Away let us haste
Scene 2
10. Aria (Semele): I Love and am lov’d
Scene 3
11. Recitative (Juno & Semele): Thus shaped like Ino
12. Aria (Juno): Behold in this Mirrour
13. Recitative (Semele): O Ecstasy of Happiness!
14. Aria (Semele): Ah charming all o’er!
15. Recitative (Juno & Semele): Be wise as you are beautiful
16. Aria (Juno): Unknowing your Intent
17. Recitative (Semele & Juno): But how shall I attain to Immortality?
18. Aria (Semele): Thus let my Thanks be paid
19. Recitative (Juno & Semele): Rich Odours fill the fragrant Air
Scene 4
20. Aria (Jupiter): Come to my Arms, my lovely Fair
21. Aria (Semele): Tho’ ’tis easie to please you
22. Aria (Jupiter): When I languish with Anguish
23. Duet (Semele & Jupiter): I dare not / Ah fear not
24. Recitative (Jupiter): Oh Semele, why art thou thus insensible?
25. Aria (Semele): I ever am granting
26. Aria (Jupiter): Speak, speak your Desire
27. Recitative (Semele & Jupiter): Swear by the Stygian Lake
28. Aria (Semele): Then cast off this human Shape which you wear
29. Aria (Jupiter): Ah! take heed what you press
30. Aria (Semele): I’ll be pleas’d with no less
Scene 5
31. Recitative/Arioso (Jupiter): Ah! Whither is she gone!
Scene 6
32. Aria (Juno): Above measure is the Pleasure
Scene 7
33. Symphony
34. Recitative (Semele): Ah me! too late I now repent
35. Symphony
Scene 8
36. Recitative (Ino, Cadmus & Athamas): Of my ill-boding Dream
Scene 9
37. Aria (Apollo): Apollo comes to relieve your Care
38. Aria (Apollo): From Tyrannous Love
39. Aria (Apollo): Then Mortals be merry
40. Chorus: Then Mortals be merry