Semiramide
Semiramide is Gioachino Rossini’s tragic two-act Italian opera based on French philosopher Voltaire’s tragedy Semiramis (1748).
The story is based on the legend of Semiramis, a queen of the ancient empire of Assyria (Mesopotamia and Egypt). All sorts of buildings across the Middle East and Armenia are attributed to her, including one of the gates of Babylon.
Gaetano Rossi wrote the libretto.
The opera premiered at the Teatro La Fenice, in Venice Italy in 1823.
Roles
- Semiramide, Queen of Babylon
- Arsace, Commander of the Assyrian army
- Idreno, an Indian king
- Assur, a prince
- Oroe, the high priest
Metropolitan Opera’s Semiramide 2018
The Metropolitan Opera performs John Copley’s production of Semiramide eight times in February and March 2018.
Cast
- Maurizio Benini (Faenza, Italy) conducts
- Soprano Angela Meade (Centralia, Washington) is Semiramide
- Mezzo-Soprano Elizabeth DeShong (Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania) is Arsace
- Tenor Javier Camarena (Xalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico) is Idreno
- Ildar Abdrazakov (Ufa, Russia) is Assur
- Ryan Speedo Green (Tampa, Florida) is Oroe
Mexican Tenor Javier Camarena
Javier Camarena as Idreno in Rossini’s ‘Semiramide.’ Courtesy of Ken Howard / Met Opera.
The Met has long had a no-encores policy. Since 1942, only Luciano Pavarotti and Juan Diego Flórez received encores.
There is something truly special about Mexican tenor Javier Camarena because he has been honored with three encores.
Performances
February
Monday, February 19 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 24 at 8 pm
Wednesday, February 28 at 7:30 pm
March
Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm
Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 10 at 1 pm
Wednesday, March 14 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 17 at 8 pm
Semiramide Tickets
A scene from Act I of Rossini’s ‘Semiramide.’ Courtesy of Ken Howard / Met Opera.
Tickets start at $25
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