Great Hall
Took place on Tue 26 Sep, 7.00pm

Music    ·    Opera

Semele | Blackheath Halls Opera 2023

£30| £25 | £19 | £10 under 12s
Great Hall
Took place on Tue 26 Sep, 7.00pm

Our flagship annual Community Opera 2023

Once again we are proud to present our wonderful opera production with a cast of exceptional professional singers  joined onstage by our 80 strong chorus, made up from members of our community aged 8-80+ accompanied by the Blackheath Halls Orchestra.

Cast

Semele Francesca Chiejina
Jupiter Thando Mjandana
Juno Katie Bray
Cadmus and Somnus Matthew Rose
Athamus Owen Willetts
Cupid Garreth Romain
Ino Hannah Leggatt*
Iris Molly Joynson*

Jupiter Youth Company
Charlton Park Academy

Director Harry Fehr
Conductor Chris Stark
Set Designer Elliott Squire               
Costume Designer Zahra Mansouri        
Lighting Designer Chuma Emembolu 

*Trinity Laban student

How tempting are the trappings of glamour, celebrity and immortality?

It’s her wedding day, but Semele is caught in a quandary. Should she marry the safe, steady option her father approves of? Or should she elope with the glamorous, exciting alternative – who happens to be Jupiter, the King of the Gods?

Stifled by her dull and uninspiring community, she cannot resist the lure of life Jupiter promises and she escapes to a new world of parties and pleasure.

But there’s a stumbling block lying in wait: Jupiter’s wife. Juno will not stand the humiliation of a philandering husband, and plots to bring about Semele’s downfall. With the help of the other gods, and her own cunning, she will ensure that Semele’s dalliance with the A-list will be brief…

Music by George Frederic Handel
Text based on an existing opera libretto by William Congreve
Performed by arrangement with King’s Music

Additional performance dates:
Thu 28 Sep 7.00pm
Sat 30 Sep 2.30pm (BSL Interpreted)
Sun 1 Oct 2.30pm

Running time approx: 2hr 45 mins including interval