Opera For Everyone Ep. 133 Semele by Handel
Aug 10, 2025
Kathleen Van De Wille, a cultural commentator and guest co-host, dives into Handel's captivating opera 'Semele.' She reveals the dark twist of Semele's quest for immortality, emphasizing the emotional turmoil between divine love and mortal jealousy. The discussion highlights the rich musicality of the oratorio, the complexities of familial relationships, and the humorous entanglements involving gods. From joyous omens to tragic outcomes, Kathleen brings the opera's intricate storytelling and themes of manipulation and desire to vivid life.
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Handel's Transition To English Oratorios
- Handel shifted from Italian opera to English oratorios because audiences and economics favored oratorio seasons in London by the 1740s.
- Oratorios saved staging costs and let Handel keep musical drama alive while adapting to changing tastes.
Greek Myth In An English Oratorio
- Semele's story adapts ancient myth into a non-Christian 'secular' oratorio by using Roman/Greek gods in English.
- That blending lets Handel and Congreve create operatic drama within the oratorio form.
Chorus As Greek-Style Storyteller
- Handel uses chorus not just as commentary but as dramatic chorus like in Greek plays, representing communal voice or gods.
- The chorus both intensifies emotion and relays offstage events efficiently.
