Semiramide

Semiramide is a opera of Gioacchino Rossini represented for the first time at the Théâtre Fenice with Venice, the February 3rd 1823.

In Semiramide , vocal pyrotechnies are impressive and almost all the admirors of Rossini agree to say that it is about a exceptional opera. Work tells the history of Sémiramis, the mythical queen of the town of Babylon. It must for the people, to choose a new king to replace her late husband. At the time when it makes its choice, the spectrum of her husband appears publicly and orders that the new king keep silent a man as a sacrifice in front of his tomb the evening-even. The drama is tied when the new king (who names Arsace) discovers that he is the son of Semiramide and that its destiny orders to him to sacrifice his/her mother, since it is her which killed her husband.

Among the best extracted, the opening put aside, it is appropriate to quote the air of Arsace, Eccomi alfine in Babilonia , and that of Semiramide, Bel raggio lusinghier , both very difficult to sing, but which are among most beautiful that Rossini wrote during its life. The American mezzo Marylin Horne was memorable Arsace, with, in the role of Semiramide, Joan Sutherland (New York, Metropolitan Opera, 1965), then Montserrat Caballé (Festival of Aix-en-Provence, 1980). June Anderson also sang the role of Semiramide.

Of course, Rossini composed several other very coloured operas also, such as the gazza will ladra, Zelmira, Tancredi, Gave It del Lago and Armida. But Semiramide , the last opera which he wrote for the Italian theater, is obviously spectacular and deserves to be better known.

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