Following sell-out success at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris (Feb 2025), Oliver Mears’ enthralling new production of Handel’s Semele opens on the Main Stage on Monday 30 June – only the second staging of the piece at Covent Garden since its world premiere in 1744.
Pretty Yende stars in the title role opposite Ben Bliss who makes his Royal Opera debut as Jupiter, Semele’s seductive but sinister lover. Between them, they sing some of Handel's most famous music including ‘Where’er you walk’, ‘Endless pleasure’, and ‘Myself I shall adore.’
The critically acclaimed cast includes Alice Coote (Juno), Brindley Sherratt (Cadmus/Somnus), Carlo Vistoli, also making his House debut, (Athamas), Niamh O’Sullivan (Ino), and Jette Parker Artist Marianna Hovanisyan (Iris). Baroque music specialist Christian Curnyn conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus.
The creative team includes Set and Costume Designer Annemarie Woods, who sets the story in Jupiter’s decadent art-deco home, Lighting Designer Fabiana Piccioli and Movement Director Sarah Fahie.
Semele is the latest installment in The Royal Opera’s series of Handel’s Covent Garden works which so far has included Susanna, Berenice, the Olivier Award-winning Alcina, as well as Jephtha and Theodora. In the 2025/26 Season Joe Hill-Gibbins and Jetske Mijnssen, both making their Royal Opera directing debuts, continue the series with Giustino in the Linbury Theatre (7–18 October) and Ariodante on the Main Stage (9-21 December) respectively.
