Semirâma

Semirâma is an opera in three acts by Ottorino Respighi to a libretto by Alessandro Cerè based on Voltaire's 1748 play Sémiramis, the same subject used for Rossini's Semiramide. Semirâma premiered on 20 November 1910 at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna. The première obtained a great success, with several calls for the composer and the singers.^[1]

In this opera, which often exploits the exotic cues offered by the subject, it is possible to find influences of the French music of its epoch and of Salome by Richard Strauss.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, November 20, 1910 (Conductor: Rodolfo Ferrari)[2]
Semirâma, Queen of Babylon	soprano	Elsa Bland
Merôdach, Leader of Babylonian armies, Son of Nino and Semirâma	tenor	Giuseppe Borgatti
Falâsar, Tetrarch of Assyria	baritone	Edoardo Faticanti
Susiâna, Chaldean Princess	soprano	Maria Llacer-Casali
Ormus, Wizard in the temple of Baal	bass	Giulio Cirino
Satibara, Priestess in the temple of Baal	bass	Domenico Casadio
First slave of Semirâma	soprano
Second slave of Semirâma	soprano

Instrumentation

Semirâma is scored for the following instruments:^[3]

piccolo, 2 flutes , 2 oboes, English horn, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, double bassoon, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass tuba, timpani, triangle, sistrum, cymbals, celesta, bass drum, xylophone, tam-tam, harp, strings

On stage: 2 oboes, harp, sistrum

Synopsis

Place: Babylon

Act 1: The return

An unknown but brave warrior, Merôdach, returns home after victorious combats. The queen Semirâma, lover of the tetrarch Falâsar, who several years before to conquer the woman had her husband killed and her son Ninya banished, becomes infatuated with the mysterious hero. Merôdach, after his arrival, meets Susiâna, a woman that was a close friend of his during their childhood. They remind their old friendship, but the passion of Semirâma looms over them.

Act 2: The response

Falâsar, afraid of losing Semirâma, consults the wizard Ormus. Semirâma announces clearly to Falâsar that she intends to marry Merôdach. Falâsar tries to convince Semirâma that Merôdach is her own son Ninya, returning from exile as a valiant soldier, but Semirâma does not believe him. The response of Ormus is ominous.

Act 3: The matricide

The wedding between Semirâma and Merôdach is about to take place. Susiâna, informed by Falâsar of the true identity of Merôdach, reveals the story to her old friend. Merôdach thinks this is a slander and tries to kill Falâsar, but in the darkness instead of striking the tetrarch kills his own mother.

Recordings

1990: Lamberto Gardelli, Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, Hungarian State Radio and Television Chorus, CD Hungaroton Cat. 31197/98[4]
Semirâma: Eva Marton Susiâna: Veronika Kincses Merôdach: Lando Bartolini	Falâsar: Lajos Miller Ormus: László Polgár Satibara: Tamás Clementis

References

1. "Il successo di Semirâma del M.° O. Respighi a Bologna". La Stampa (in Italian). Torino. 21 November 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
2. "Première of Semirâma". amadeusonline (in Italian). Retrieved 2 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
3. "Ottorino RESPIGHI. Catalogo delle composizioni suddiviso per generi musicali: Opere liriche". l'Orchestra Virtuale del Flaminio (in Italian). Retrieved 2 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
4. "Ottorino Respighi - Semirama - Lamberto Gardelli (1990)". operaclass. Retrieved 2 January 2015. External link in |publisher= (help)