Composer George Frideric Handel Librettist William Congreve Based On Ovid's Metamorphoses Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 2000-2001 Language English Creative/Crew Conductor Charles Mackerras William Lacey(11/10, 15, 19, 25) Stage Director(s) John Copley Set Designer(s) Henry Bardon Costume Designer(s) David Walker Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Chorus Director Ian Robertson Choreographer Lawrence Pech Musical Preparation John Churchwell Joyce Fieldsend John Parr Ernest Fredric Knell William Lacey Sara Jobin Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Prompter Sara Jobin Assistant Stage Director(s) Roy Rallo Kristine McIntyre Stage Manager(s) Jerry Sherk Cast High priest of Juno John Ames Cadmus, King of Thebes John Relyea Athamas, prince of Boeotia Brian Asawa Semele, daughter of Cadmus Ruth Ann Swenson Ino, daughter of Cadmus Sarah Connolly Juno, Jupiter's queen Sarah Connolly Iris, Juno's attendant messenger Christine Brandes Jupiter, king of the gods John Mark Ainsley Somnus, god of sleep John Relyea Apollo, god of the sun Todd Geer Show Dates Wed, Nov 1 2000, 7:30pm Sat, Nov 4 2000, 8pm Tue, Nov 7 2000, 8pm Fri, Nov 10 2000, 8pm Wed, Nov 15 2000, 7:30pm Sun, Nov 19 2000, 2pm Wed, Nov 22 2000, 8pm Sat, Nov 25 2000, 2pm Time and Place Thebes, in mythological times Scenes ACT I -- The temple of Juno INTERMISSION Act II, Scene 1 -- A pleasant country Act II, Scene 2 -- An apartment in Semele's palace INTERMISSION Act III --The cave of Somnus Media Image Ensemble, Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ensemble in the Opening Scene Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Semele), John Mark Ainsley (Jupiter), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson as Semele; John Mark Ainsley as Jupiter Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Sarah Connolly (Juno), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sarah Connolly performed the dual roles of Ino and Juno (shown) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Brian Asawa (Athamas), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Brian Asawa as Athamas Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Christine Brandes (Iris), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Christine Brandes as Iris Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Todd Geer (Apollo), Ensemble, Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Arrival of Apollo (Todd Geer) in the opera's final scene Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Sponsors The production of "Semele" is designated in honor of Mrs. Jaquelin H. Hume's generosity to San Francisco Opera. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Myron DuBain's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Mr. John Hutchinson's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Barbara and Ed Eschbach's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. Acknowledgements This production is made possible, in part, by the Bernard Osher Endowment Fund. Notes Edition by Anthony Lewis and Charles Mackerras Produced in association with The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Supertitles are taken from the original libretto Supernumeraries Katherine Brazaitis Rose Dawydiak-Rapagnani Shaheen Munir Valentina Simi Ann Weiler Keith Bartel Brennan Boyer Alex Ceffalo Keith Clausen Uwe Damerow Gavin Davenport Simon Ehrlich David Grace Todd Jones Joseph Kennedy Carl LaBante Steve Lavezzoli Frank Masson Evan Pallervo Oliver Pollard Alexander Roe Mark Sommerfield Raymond Sullivan Aaron Thayer Antonio Toro Randolph Ward Jhaemi Willens
Image Ensemble, Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ensemble in the Opening Scene Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Semele), John Mark Ainsley (Jupiter), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson as Semele; John Mark Ainsley as Jupiter Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Sarah Connolly (Juno), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sarah Connolly performed the dual roles of Ino and Juno (shown) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Brian Asawa (Athamas), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Brian Asawa as Athamas Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Christine Brandes (Iris), Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Christine Brandes as Iris Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Todd Geer (Apollo), Ensemble, Semele, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Arrival of Apollo (Todd Geer) in the opera's final scene Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera