Semiramide

Semiramide is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi based on Voltaire's tragedy Sémiramis, about the legendary character Semiramis of Babylon. It was premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on February 3, 1823. In Spain it premiered on May 17, 1826, at the Teatro de la Santa Cruz in Barcelona.

Semiramide is the last opera seria composed by Rossini. Some critics say that the vocal line is extremely flowery and is not used as a mode of expression but as a spectacular display of the singers' vocal abilities. As in other bel canto operas, such as Lucia di Lammermoor or I Puritani, the libretto includes a madness scene, and although in those other cases it was dedicated to the main female character, in this case it is entrusted to Assur, a bass.

Several recordings of the opera exist, one of the most critically acclaimed being that of Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne in the title roles.

This opera is rarely performed today; in Operabase statistics it appears with only 5 representations in the period 2005-2010.

Plot

Semiramide, together with Assur, has assassinated her husband, King Nino to access the throne. However, her son has been saved from death and now, under the name of Arsace and without his identity being known to him or his mother, he is a successful commander in the Assyrian army. The opera opens when Arsace returns to Babylon to ask for Azema's hand and support Assur's aspirations to become Semiramide's new husband. Assur is not willing to accept it, because he also loves Azema. However, Semiramide falls in love with Arsace and declares that he will be the successor to the throne; her at the same time that she gives Azema's hand, not to Assur, but to Idreno. The ghost of King Nino appears to everyone's surprise and fear, to warn that some crimes must be atoned for. Oroe, the high priest, tells Arsace what his origin is and who is to blame for the death of his father; Despite the pain he feels, Arsace swears to avenge that death. Arsace meets the assassins in a dark and confusing place, and when he tries to kill Assur, he kills Semiramide. Finally, he is declared King.