Other texts

Libretto texts that don't concerne the acting.

• Argument

      Desktop background

Images to be used as background for computer screen.

• The morning lark to mine accords his note (♦) (♦) - 1280x1024, 1920x1024 pixel
• Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade (♦) (♦) - 1280x1024, 1920x1024 pixel
• Leave me, loathsome light (♦) (♦) - 1280x1024, 1920x1024 pixel

      Incipit of pieces

Incipit of pieces set in alphabetical order.

• Above measure, Third Act, scene 6
• Again auspicious flashes rise, First Act, scene 1
• Ah me! / What refuge now is left me?, First Act, scene 1
• Ah me! / Why sighs my Semele?, Second Act, scene 3
• Ah me! too late I now repent, Third Act, scene 7
• Ah! take heed what you press, Third Act, scene 4
• Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy fair!, Third Act, scene 5
• Ah, wretched prince, doom'd to disastrous love!, First Act, scene 3
• Alas! she yields, First Act, scene 1
• Apollo comes to relieve your care, Third Act, scene 9
• Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs!, First Act, scene 1
• Awake, Saturnia, from thy lethargy!, Second Act, scene 1
• Be wise as you are beautiful, Third Act, scene 3
• Behold in this mirrour, Third Act, scene 3
• Behold! auspicious flashes rise, First Act, scene 1
• Bless the glad earth with heav'nly lays, Second Act, scene 4
• But hark, the heav'nly sphere turns round, Second Act, scene 4
• By my command, Second Act, scene 3
• By that tremendous flood I swear, Third Act, scene 4
• Cease, cease your vows, 'tis impious to proceed, First Act, scene 1
• Come Zephyrs, come, while Cupid sings, Second Act, scene 2
• Come to my arms, my lovely fair, Third Act, scene 4
• Conjure him by his oath, Third Act, scene 3
• Daughter, obey, First Act, scene 1
• Dear sister, how was your passage hither?, Second Act, scene 4
• Despair no more shall wound me, Third Act, scene 8
• Dull god, can'st thou attend the waters fall, Third Act, scene 1
• Endless pleasure, endless love, First Act, scene 4
• Hail Cadmus, hail!, First Act, scene 4
• Happy, happy shall we be, Third Act, scene 9
• Hear, and obey, First Act, scene 1
• Hear, mighty queen, while I recount, Second Act, scene 1
• Hence, Iris, hence away, Second Act, scene 1
• How I was hence remov'd,, Third Act, scene 8
• How engaging, how endearing, Second Act, scene 3
• Hymen haste, thy torch prepare, First Act, scene 1
• I ever am granting, Third Act, scene 4
• I must with speed amuse her, Second Act, scene 3
• I'll be pleas'd with no less, Third Act, scene 4
• Iris, impatient of thy stay, Second Act, scene 1
• Lay your doubts and fears aside, Second Act, scene 3
• Leave me, loathsome light, Third Act, scene 1
• Let me not another moment, Second Act, scene 3
• Lucky omens bless our rites, First Act, scene 1
• More sweet is that name, Third Act, scene 1
• My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed, Third Act, scene 2
• My will obey, Third Act, scene 1
• Myself I shall adore, Third Act, scene 3
• No more, I'll hear no more!, Second Act, scene 1
• Now love that everlasting boy invites, Second Act, scene 3
• O Athamas, what torture hast thou born!, First Act, scene 2
• O Jove, in pity teach me which to chuse, First Act, scene 1
• O ecstacy of happiness!, Third Act, scene 3
• O prodigy, to me of dire portent!, First Act, scene 3
• O sleep, why dost thou leave me?, Second Act, scene 2
• O terror and astonishment!, Third Act, scene 8
• Obey my will, thy rod resign, Third Act, scene 1
• Of my ill boding dream, Third Act, scene 8
• Prepare then, ye immortal choir, Second Act, scene 4
• Rich odours fill the fragrant air, Third Act, scene 3
• See from above the bellying clouds descend, Third Act, scene 8
• See, see Jove's priests and holy augurs come, First Act, scene 4
• See, she blushing turns her eyes, First Act, scene 1
• She weeps! / The gentle maid, in tender pity, First Act, scene 2
• Sleep forsaking, Second Act, scene 3
• Somnus, awake, Third Act, scene 1
• Speak, speak, your desire, Third Act, scene 4
• The morning lark to mine accords his note, First Act, scene 1
• Then cast off this human shape which you wear, Third Act, scene 4
• There from mortal cares retiring, Second Act, scene 1
• Tho' 'tis easie to please ye, Third Act, scene 4
• Thus let my thanks be paid, Third Act, scene 3
• Thus shaped like Ino, Third Act, scene 3
• Thy aid, pronubial Juno, Athamas implores., First Act, scene 1
• Too well I see, First Act, scene 2
• Turn, hopeless lover, turn thy eyes, First Act, scene 2
• Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade, Second Act, scene 3
• Why dost thou thus untimely grieve, First Act, scene 1
• Wing'd with our fears, and pious haste, First Act, scene 3
• With adamant the gates are barr'd, Second Act, scene 1
• With fond desiring, Second Act, scene 3
• You are mortal, and require, Second Act, scene 3
• You'll grant what I require?, Third Act, scene 4
• You've undone me, First Act, scene 2
• Your tuneful voice my tale would tell, First Act, scene 2

      Acts and scenes

Libretto acts' and scenes' list.

First Act

• Scene 1
  The scene is the temple of Juno, near the altar is a golden image of the goddess. Priests are in their solemnities, as after a sacrifice newly offer'd: flames arise from the altar, and the statue of Juno is seen to bow. Cadmus, Athamas, Semele, Ino and Chorus of priests.
• Scene 2
  Athamas and Ino.
• Scene 3
  To them enter Cadmus attended.
• Scene 4
  Enter to them the Chief Priest, with Augurs and other Priests.

Second Act

• Scene 1
  The scene is a pleasant country, the prospect is terminated by a beautiful mountain adorn'd with woods and water-falls. Juno and Iris descend in different machines. Juno in a chariot drawn by peacocks; Iris on a rainbow; they alight and meet.
• Scene 2
  The scene changes to an apartment in the palace of Semele; she is sleeping; Loves and Zephyrs waiting.
• Scene 3
  Two Loves lead in Jupiter. While he meets and embraces Semele, Cupid sings.
• Scene 4
  Jupiter retires. Semele and Ino meet and embrace. The scene is totally changed, and shews an open country. Chorus of Nymphs and Swains. Semele and Ino having entertain'd each other in dumb shew, sit and observe the rural sports, which end the second act.

Third Act

• Scene 1
  The scene is the cave of sleep. The god of sleep lying on his bed. A soft symphony is heard. Then the musick changes to a different movement.
• Scene 2
  Semele's Apartment. Semele alone.
• Scene 3
  Enter Juno as Ino, with a mirrour in her hand.
• Scene 4
  Jupiter enters, offers to embrace Semele; she looks kindly on him, but retires a little from him.
• Scene 5
  She withdraws, Jupiter remains pensive and dejected.
• Scene 6
  Juno appears in her chariot ascending.
• Scene 7
  The scene opening discovers Semele lying under a canopy, leaning pensively. While a mournful symphony is playing she looks up and sees Jupiter descending in a black cloud; the motion of the cloud is slow. Flashes of lightning issue from either side, and thunder is heard grumbling in the air.
• Scene 8
  The scene totally changed represents a pleasant country, mount Citheron closing the prospect. Enter Cadmus, Athamas and Ino.
• Scene 9
  A bright Cloud descends and rests on mount Citheron, which opening, discovers Apollo seated in it as the god of prophecy.

      Changes of scene painting

All the scene paintings described in the libretto.

First Act

• Scene 1: The temple of Juno; near the altar is a golden image of the goddess. Priests are in their solemnities, as after a sacrifice newly offer'd: flames arise from the altar, and the statue of Juno is seen to bow.

Second Act

• Scene 1: A pleasant country, the prospect is terminated by a beautiful mountain adorn'd with woods and water-falls.
• Scene 2: An apartment in the palace of Semele.
• Scene 4: An open country.

Third Act

• Scene 1: The cave of sleep.
• Scene 2: Semele's Apartment.
• Scene 8: A pleasant country, mount Citheron closing the prospect.

      The acts in brief

For every act the synthesis of the scene paintings, of the pieces, of performers' entrance and leaving, of the main passages.

• First Act
• Second Act
• Third Act

      Musical numbers

Score musical numbers and their incipit, with link to libretto.

• Ouverture - Gavotte

First Act

• N. 1 - Accompagnato (Behold! auspicious flashes rise, scene 1)
• N. 2 - Chorus of Priests (Lucky omens bless our rites, scene 1)
• N. 3 - Recitative, arioso and duet (Daughter, obey, scene 1)
• N. 4 - Accompagnato (Ah me! / What refuge now is left me?, scene 1)
• N. 5 - Air (O Jove, in pity teach me which to chuse, scene 1)
• N. 6 - Air (The morning lark to mine accords his note, scene 1)
• N. 7 - Recitative (See, she blushing turns her eyes, scene 1)
• N. 8 - Air (Hymen haste, thy torch prepare, scene 1)
• N. 9 - Recitative (Alas! she yields, scene 1)
• N. 10 - Quartet (Why dost thou thus untimely grieve, scene 1)
• N. 11 - Chorus of Priests (Avert these omens, all ye pow'rs!, scene 1)
• N. 12 - Accompagnato (Again auspicious flashes rise, scene 1)
• N. 13 - Recitative (Thy aid, pronubial Juno, Athamas implores., scene 1)
• N. 14 - Chorus of Priests (Cease, cease your vows, 'tis impious to proceed, scene 1)
• N. 15 - Recitative (O Athamas, what torture hast thou born!, scene 2)
• N. 16 - Air (Turn, hopeless lover, turn thy eyes, scene 2)
• N. 17 - Recitative (She weeps! / The gentle maid, in tender pity, scene 2)
• N. 18 - Air (Your tuneful voice my tale would tell, scene 2)
• N. 19 - Recitative (Too well I see, scene 2)
• N. 20 - Duet (You've undone me, scene 2)
• N. 21 - Recitative (Ah, wretched prince, doom'd to disastrous love!, scene 3)
• N. 22 - Accompagnato (Wing'd with our fears, and pious haste, scene 3)
• N. 23 - Recitative (O prodigy, to me of dire portent!, scene 3)
• N. 24 - Recitative (See, see Jove's priests and holy augurs come, scene 4)
• N. 25 - Chorus of Priests and Augurs (Hail Cadmus, hail!, scene 4)
• N. 26 - Air and Chorus (Endless pleasure, endless love, scene 4)

Second Act

• N. 27 - Symphony
• N. 28 - Recitative (Iris, impatient of thy stay, scene 1)
• N. 29 - Air (There from mortal cares retiring, scene 1)
• N. 30 - Recitative (No more, I'll hear no more!, scene 1)
• N. 31 - Accompagnato (Awake, Saturnia, from thy lethargy!, scene 1)
• N. 32 - Recitative (Hear, mighty queen, while I recount, scene 1)
• N. 33 - Accompagnato (With adamant the gates are barr'd, scene 1)
• N. 34 - Air (Hence, Iris, hence away, scene 1)
• N. 35 - Air (Come Zephyrs, come, while Cupid sings, scene 2)
• N. 36 - Air (O sleep, why dost thou leave me?, scene 2)
• N. 37 - Recitative (Sleep forsaking, scene 3)
• N. 38 - Recitative (Let me not another moment, scene 3)
• N. 39 - Air (Lay your doubts and fears aside, scene 3)
• N. 40 - Recitative (You are mortal, and require, scene 3)
• N. 41 - Air (With fond desiring, scene 3)
• N. 42 - Air (How engaging, how endearing, scene 3)
• N. 43 - Recitative (Ah me! / Why sighs my Semele?, scene 3)
• N. 44 - Air (I must with speed amuse her, scene 3)
• N. 45 - Chorus of Loves and Zephyrs (Now love that everlasting boy invites, scene 3)
• N. 46 - Recitative (By my command, scene 3)
• N. 47 - Air (Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade, scene 3)
• N. 48 - Recitative (Dear sister, how was your passage hither?, scene 4)
• N. 49 - Air (But hark, the heav'nly sphere turns round, scene 4)
• N. 50 - Duet (Prepare then, ye immortal choir, scene 4)
• N. 51 - Chorus of Nymphs and Swains (Bless the glad earth with heav'nly lays, scene 4)

Third Act

• N. 52 - Symphony
• N. 53 - Accompagnato (Somnus, awake, scene 1)
• N. 54 - Air (Leave me, loathsome light, scene 1)
• N. 55 - Recitative (Dull god, can'st thou attend the waters fall, scene 1)
• N. 56 - Air (More sweet is that name, scene 1)
• N. 57 - Recitative (My will obey, scene 1)
• N. 58 - Duet (Obey my will, thy rod resign, scene 1)
• N. 59 - Air (My racking thoughts by no kind slumbers freed, scene 2)
• N. 60 - Recitative (Thus shaped like Ino, scene 3)
• N. 61 - Air (Behold in this mirrour, scene 3)
• N. 62 - Recitative (O ecstacy of happiness!, scene 3)
• N. 63 - Air (Myself I shall adore, scene 3)
• N. 64 - Recitative (Be wise as you are beautiful, scene 3)
• N. 65 - Accompagnato (Conjure him by his oath, scene 3)
• N. 66 - Air (Thus let my thanks be paid, scene 3)
• N. 67 - Recitative (Rich odours fill the fragrant air, scene 3)
• N. 68 - Air (Come to my arms, my lovely fair, scene 4)
• N. 69 - Recitative (Tho' 'tis easie to please ye, scene 4)
• N. 70 - Air (I ever am granting, scene 4)
• N. 71 - Recitative (Speak, speak, your desire, scene 4)
• N. 72 - Accompagnato (By that tremendous flood I swear, scene 4)
• N. 73 - Recitativo (You'll grant what I require?, scene 4)
• N. 74 - Accompagnato (Then cast off this human shape which you wear, scene 4)
• N. 75 - Air (Ah! take heed what you press, scene 4)
• N. 76 - Air (I'll be pleas'd with no less, scene 4)
• N. 77 - Accompagnato (Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy fair!, scene 5)
• N. 78 - Air (Above measure, scene 6)
• N. 79 - Accompagnato (Ah me! too late I now repent, scene 7)
• N. 80 - Recitativo (Of my ill boding dream, scene 8)
• N. 81 - Air (O terror and astonishment!, scene 8)
• N. 82 - Recitativo (How I was hence remov'd,, scene 8)
• N. 83 - Air (Despair no more shall wound me, scene 8)
• N. 84 - Recitativo (See from above the bellying clouds descend, scene 8)
• N. 85 - Symphony
• N. 86 - Accompagnato (Apollo comes to relieve your care, scene 9)
• N. 87 - Chorus of Priests (Happy, happy shall we be, scene 9)

      Significant pieces

Pieces that are pointed out from critics and musicologists.

First Act

• The morning lark to mine accords his note (Semele), scene 1

Second Act

• Hence, Iris, hence away (Juno), scene 1
• With fond desiring (Semele), scene 3
• Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade (Jupiter), scene 3

Third Act

• Leave me, loathsome light (Somnus), scene 1
• Myself I shall adore (Semele), scene 3
• I'll be pleas'd with no less (Semele), scene 4

      Statistics of various kinds

Use of voice types and libretto words.

• Use of voice types

      Search in the net.

Search with predefined criterias on different engines.