Semele February 2024

The curtain has come down on Bath Opera’s fully staged production of Handel’s Semele, which was performed on February 15th – 17th at the Roper Theatre, Bath.

Dave Key Pugh’s humorous and imaginative interpretation re-cast the Greek gods and goddesses as modern celebrities, and the Olympian luxury to which Jupiter snatched Semele from her earthly marriage was a luxury spa retreat. Peter Blackwood conducted an 11-piece orchestra with strings
and harpsichord. Handel’s beautiful arias were interspersed with nine choruses, a challenge that Bath Opera’s chorus only fully rose to rather late in the rehearsal period!

Hannah Drury made a magnificent come back to Bath Opera, excelling in the title role. She was supported by Bath Opera regulars Judy Davis, Niall Hoskin, Andrew Havers, Edward Harper and Gill Clark. We also had three outstanding young debutants in Alexander Pinkstone as Jupiter, Becky
Granger as Ino, and Bruna Figueiredo as Iris.

You can read more about this exciting production in our dedicated Semele newsletter here.

Here are some of the plaudits that we have received since the performances –