Film
Metropolitan Opera Live: Semiramide
- Certificate
- 12A
- Running Time
- 230 mins
Babylonian Queen Semiramide needs to find a worthy successor to her late hubby Nino – and pronto. But she harbours several dark secrets. Firstly, she bumped off the old boy with the assistance of her lover Assur. Then, just when Assur thinks the job’s in the bag for him, she goes and appoints young officer Arsace. Only the high priest Oroe knows why: Arsace is the long-lost son of Semiramide and Nino.
Based on a story by Voltaire, which was in turn inspired by the legend of Semiramis of Assyria, Rossini’s early 19th century opera came at the culmination of his run of tragedies, long after he’d left light comedy behind. Rarely performed today, it’s one of his most vocally demanding works. Angela Meade teaks on the challenge of the title role in the Met’s first revival in 25 years.
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