Marin Marais's 'Sémélé' is his final 'tragédie lyrique', premiered in 1709 with a libretto by Antoine Houdar de La Motte.
Interpretation
The ensemble Les Ombres expands its forces to a chamber orchestra to adapt to the varying styles of each work on the album, ensuring individual character is highlighted.
Composition History
Georg Friedrich Haendel's 'Semele' is an opera in English, presented in oratorio form in 1744, with a libretto by William Congreve.
Album & Artwork
This album brings together three different musical works, all named 'Sémélé', by Marin Marais, André Cardinal Destouches, and Georg Friedrich Haendel, to explore their shared inspiration.
Composition History
André Cardinal Destouches's 'Sémélé' is a secular cantata, published in 1719, also based on a text by Antoine Houdar de La Motte.
Cultural Impact
The myth of Semele has inspired many artistic and literary movements from the 17th century to the present day, finding its ideal musical expression in the Baroque era.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in June 2013 at the Espace Bonnet de Jujurieux, with artistic direction by Dominique Daigremont, Margaux Blanchard, and Sylvain Sartre.
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