Academy of Ancient Music, Cambridge Handel Opera Company, Cambridge Early Music and Julian Perkins are proud to present the first professional recording of John Eccles's Semele (c.1707), a notable early setting of the great English libretto by William Congreve better known in a version by GF Handel from 1744. Academy of Ancient Music's mission is to explore, reveal and preserve the great treasure house of baroque and classical music, and a spirit of newfound discovery runs through all our work. Eccles's Semele is the next step on this journey, released here on 2 albums an extensive accompanying full-color booklet containing scholarly essays, Stephen Fry's modern re-telling of the story, autograph manuscript images of Eccles' score, the full libretto text and much more. A fascinating insight into how opera in England might have developed after Henry Purcell's death had not Handel moved to London in 1712, Eccles's Semele is the perfect addition to any baroque-music lover's library.

Tracklist:

Semele: Overture
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Behold Auspicious Flashes Rise
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Lucky Omens Bless Our Rites
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Daughter, Obey, Hear, And Obey
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Ah Me! What Refuge Now Is Left Me?
Semele, Act I Scene 1: See, She Blushing Turns Her Eyes
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Hymen Haste, Thy Torch Prepare
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Alas! She Yields, And Has Undone Me
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Why Dost Thou Thus Untimely Grieve?
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Symphony (1)
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Avert These Omens, All Ye Pow'rs! (1)
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Avert These Omens, All Ye Pow'rs! (2)
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Again Auspicious Flashes Rise
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Symphony (2)
Semele, Act I Scene 1: Cease Your Vows
Semele, Act I Scene 2: O Athamas, What Torture Hast Thou Born!
Semele, Act I Scene 2: Turn, Hopeless Lover, Turn Thy Eyes
Semele, Act I Scene 2: She Weeps!
Semele, Act I Scene 2: Such Unavailing Mercy Is In Beauty Found
Semele, Act I Scene 2: Ah Me, Too Much Afflicted!
Semele, Act I Scene 2: You've Undone Me
Semele, Act I Scene 3: Ah, Wretched Prince, Doom'd To Disastrous Love!
Semele, Act I Scene 4: See, See, Jove's Priests And Holy Augurs Come
Semele, Act I Scene 4: Hail, Cadmus, Hail!
Semele, Act I Scene 4: Endless Pleasure, Endless Love
Semele, Act I Scene 4: Haste, Haste, To Sacrifice Prepare
Semele, Act I Scene 4: Cease Your Mourning
Semele, Act II Scene 1: Symphony
Semele, Act II Scene 1: Iris, Impatient Of Thy Stay
Semele, Act II Scene 1: There From Mortal Cares Retiring
Semele, Act II Scene 1: Thither Flora The Fair
Semele, Act II Scene 1: No More, I'll Hear No More
Semele, Act II Scene 1: Not One Of Curst Agenor's Race I'll Spare
Semele, Act II Scene 1: Hear, Mighty Queen
Semele, Act II Scene 2: See, After The Toils Of An Amorous Fight
Semele, Act II Scene 2: Come Zephyrs, Come, While Cupid Sings
Semele, Act II Scene 2: Dance Of The Zephyrs
Semele, Act II Scene 2: O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Sleep Forsaking
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Let Me Not Another Moment
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Lay Thy Doubts And Fears Aside
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Nor Was I Absent
Semele, Act II Scene 3: If Cheerful Hopes
Semele, Act II Scene 3: If This Be Love, Not You Alone
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Ah Me!
Semele, Act II Scene 3: With My Frailty Don't Upbraid Me
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Thy Sex Of Jove's The Masterpiece
Semele, Act II Scene 3: Thy Needless Fears Remove
Semele, Act II Scene 3: By My Command
Semele, Act II Scene 4: Symphony
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Symphony
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Somnus, Awake
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Leave Me, Loathsome Light
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Dull God, Can'st Thou Attend The Waters Fall
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Only Love On Sleep Has Pow'r
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Somnus, Arise
Semele, Act III Scene 1: More Sweet Is That Name
Semele, Act III Scene 1: My Will Obey
Semele, Act III Scene 1: Away Let Us Haste
Semele, Act III Scene 2: I Love And Am Lov'd
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Thus Shaped Like Ino
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Behold In This Mirrour
Semele, Act III Scene 3: O Ecstasy Of Happiness!
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Ah Charming All O'er!
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Be Wise As You Are Beautiful
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Unknowing Your Intent
Semele, Act III Scene 3: But How Shall I Attain To Immortality?
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Thus Let My Thanks Be Paid
Semele, Act III Scene 3: Rich Odours Fill The Fragrant Air
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Come To My Arms, My Lovely Fair
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Tho' 'tis Easie To Please You
Semele, Act III Scene 4: When I Languish With Anguish
Semele, Act III Scene 4: I Dare Not
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Oh Semele, Why Art Thou Thus Insensible?
Semele, Act III Scene 4: I Ever Am Granting
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Speak, Speak Your Desire
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Swear By The Stygian Lake
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Then Cast Off This Human Shape Which You Wear
Semele, Act III Scene 4: Ah! Take Heed What You Press
Semele, Act III Scene 4: I'll Be Pleas'd With No Less
Semele, Act III Scene 5: Ah! Whither Is She Gone!
Semele, Act III Scene 6: Above Measure Is The Pleasure
Semele, Act III Scene 7: Symphony (1)
Semele, Act III Scene 7: Ah Me! Too Late I Now Repent
Semele, Act III Scene 7: Symphony (2)
Semele, Act III Scene 8: Of My Ill-Boding Dream
Semele, Act III Scene 9: Apollo Comes To Relieve Your Care
Semele, Act III Scene 9: From Tyrannous Love
Semele, Act III Scene 9: Then Mortals Be Merry (1)
Semele, Act III Scene 9: Then Mortals Be Merry (2)

UPC: 5060340150143
Label: Academy Of Ancient
Release Date: 1.29.21
Format: CD

Eccles / Academy Of Ancient Music / Perkins - Semele (2 CD)