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Marais, M: Sémélé

Shannon Mercer (Sémélé), Bénédicte Tauran (Dorine), Jaël Azzaretti (La Grande Prêtresse de Bacchus), Hjördis Thébault (Junon), Anders J. Dahlin (Adraste), Thomas Dolié (Jupiter), Lisandro Abadie (Mercure) & Marc Labonnette (Cadmus)

Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

Marais, M: Sémélé

Awards:

Marais conjures up a brilliant succession of choruses, sensuous solos, dramatic ensembles, descriptive symphonies, ceremonial marches and dances. Hervé Niquet directs a tense, visceral performance,...

BBC Music Magazine, June 20085 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Marais, M: Sémélé

Shannon Mercer (Sémélé), Bénédicte Tauran (Dorine), Jaël Azzaretti (La Grande Prêtresse de Bacchus), Hjördis Thébault (Junon), Anders J. Dahlin (Adraste), Thomas Dolié (Jupiter), Lisandro Abadie (Mercure) & Marc Labonnette (Cadmus)

Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

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Awards:

Marais conjures up a brilliant succession of choruses, sensuous solos, dramatic ensembles, descriptive symphonies, ceremonial marches and dances. Hervé Niquet directs a tense, visceral performance,...

BBC Music Magazine, June 20085 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

For his latest recording directing Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet has revived Sémélé by Marin Marais - the final opera by one of the leading composers from the reign of Louis XIV. Known for his compositions for viola da gamba, Marais was also the author of a number of tragédies lyriques which he wrote for the Académie royale de Musique. However, only Alcyone has attracted any attention. Sémélé, first performed in 1709, has music to charm and seduce: a sparkling prologue honouring Bacchus, a set of arias with freshly-minted appeal, a marvellously inventive diabolical scene; all leading up to an earthquake scene that anticipates the later work of Rameau. For all lovers of baroque music, here is the opportunity to discover and enjoy a masterpiece which has lain in the shadows for the last three centuries.

  • Release date: 31st Mar 2008
  • Label: Glossa
  • Catalogue number: GCD921614
  • Length: 2 hours 16 minutes
  • Genre:

Contents and tracklist

Marais, M: Sémélé
Work length27:39
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Overture
Track length2:01
Prologue: Accourons pour un Dieu nouveau (Chorus)
Track length1:58
Prologue: March of the Satyrs and Maenads
Track length1:05
Prologue: Duet. Le fils du maistre du tonnerre (the Priestess, the Great Priest, Chorus)
Track length3:44
Prologue: Duet. Chantons ses glorieux exploits (the Great Priest, the Priestess)
Track length3:17
Prologue: First Air for the Maenads
Track length0:34
Prologue: Second Air for the Maenads
Track length0:27
Prologue: Air. Goutons icy les plus doux charmes (the Priestess)
Track length5:45
Prologue: Third Air for the Maenads
Track length0:50
Prologue: Prelude - Recitative. O Ciel! Quel est l'effect de ce nectar charmant! (the Great Priest)
Track length0:43
Prologue: Courons les bois et les campagnes (Chorus)
Track length1:40
Prologue: Gentle Symphony - Recitative. Quel bruit nouveau se fait entendre? (the Priestess)
Track length1:59
Prologue: Recitative. J'ayme a voir pour Bacchus eclatter vostre amour (Appollon)
Track length0:49
Prologue: Le fils du maistre du tonnerre (Chorus)
Track length0:47
Prologue: Overture
Track length2:00
Marais, M: Semele, Act I Scene 1
Work length3:14
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Ma fille, la victoire a nomme vostre epoux (Cadmus)
Track length1:12
Ritournelle - Scene 2: Recitative. Que vais-je devenir? (Semele, Dorine) - Air. Non, non, c'est trop d'obeissance [Dorine]
Track length2:02
Marais, M: Semele, Act I Scene 2
Work length4:47
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Tu gemis vainement; fuy trop indigne Amour (Semele)
Track length1:06
Recitative. Idas a pour vous plaire oublie ses Estats (Dorine, Semele)
Track length3:08
Announcement - Recitative. Ce bruit annonce Adraste (Dorine, Semele)
Track length0:33
Marais, M: Semele, Act I Scene 3
Work length12:20
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
March for the Warriors
Track length1:02
Recitative. Vous voyez les mutins captifs, humiliez (Adraste, Semele)
Track length1:43
Air. Que mon triomphe est glorieux (Adraste, Chorus)
Track length1:39
First Air of the Warriors
Track length1:12
Air. Tout tremble Dieu puissant, sous ton pouvoir supreme (Cadmus)
Track length0:59
Second Air for the Warriors
Track length0:46
Air. Unissez vos coeurs et vos voix (Cadmus, Chorus)
Track length3:25
Recitative. Allons; pour meriter des victoires nouvelles (Adraste)
Track length0:22
Sous nos pas s'ebranle la terre (Chorus, Cadmus)
Track length1:12
Marais, M: Semele, Act I Scene 4
Work length1:15
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Mes premiers voeux et mon premier hommage (Adraste, Semele)
Track length0:38
The Second Air of the Warriors
Track length0:37
Marais, M: Semele, Act II Scene 1
Work length5:15
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Ritournelle - Recitative. La Princesse abandonne Idas! (Arbate, Dorine) - Air. Tu me fais trembler pour me feux [Arbate, Dorine]
Track length5:15
Marais, M: Semele, Act II Scene 2
Work length6:32
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Ritournelle - Recitative. Quoy vous pouvez brizer, cruelle (Jupiter, Semele) - Air. Malgre moy je brise mes fers [Semele, Jupiter]
Track length6:32
Marais, M: Semele, Act II Scene 3
Work length10:54
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Air. Accourez, venez rendre hommage (Jupiter)
Track length0:57
Secondez-nous, oyseaux de ces boccages (Chorus)
Track length3:06
Chaconne
Track length6:51
Marais, M: Semele, Act II Scene 4
Work length2:14
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Quel spectacle vient me surprendre? (Adraste, Semele, Jupiter)
Track length1:37
Prelude - Scene 5: Recitative. Ciel, tout disparoit a mes yeux! (Adraste)
Track length0:37
Marais, M: Semele, Act II Scene 5
Work length1:30
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Chaconne
Track length1:30
Marais, M: Semele, Act III Scene 1
Work length1:41
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Prelude - Recitative. Non, je ne doute plus du malheur de mes feux (Adraste)
Track length1:41
Marais, M: Semele, Act III Scene 2
Work length3:07
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative and Duet. Ne doutes point de ta vengeance (Junon, Adraste)
Track length1:24
Prelude - Recitative. Tremble des maux qu'on te prepare (Junon) - Scene 3: Prelude - Volez Zephirs; allez enlever Beroe [Junon]
Track length1:43
Marais, M: Semele, Act III Scene 4
Work length11:16
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Air. Amour, regnez en paix, regnez charmant vainqueur (Semele, Junon)
Track length3:33
Recitative. Quoy! Jupiter vous ayme et vous me le cachiez! (Junon) - Air. Je craignois tes yeux pour tremoins! [Semele, Junon]
Track length4:43
Prelude - Recitative. Terrible Roy des pales ombres (Junon)
Track length1:32
Symphony
Track length0:35
Recitative. La charme est fait, ce bruit et ces flammes terribles (Junon) - Scene 5: Prelude - Soleil fuy de ces lieux [Junon]
Track length0:53
Marais, M: Semele, Act III Scene 5
Work length2:33
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Ordonne; nous obeissons (Chorus) - Recitative. Vous lisez dans mon coeur comblez mon esperance [Junon]
Track length0:58
Qu'un affreux ravage (Chorus)
Track length0:44
Air for the Furies
Track length0:51
Marais, M: Semele, Act III Scene 6
Work length1:51
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Cesse; je ne puis plus resister a mon trouble (Semele, Junon)
Track length1:51
Marais, M: Semele, Act IV Scene 1
Work length8:19
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Ritournelle - Recitative. Apprends quel est le Dieu qui t'offre sa tendresse (Mercure, Dorine) - Air. Si vous estes un Dieu [Dorine, Mercure]
Track length7:22
Recitative. Jupiter en ces lieux vient avec la Princesse (Mercure) - Air. Vous bergers, accourez [Mercure]
Track length0:57
Marais, M: Semele, Act IV Scene 2
Work length6:18
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
March for the Shepherds - Venez tendres bergers dans ces belles retraittes (the Shepherdesses, the Shepherds)
Track length2:10
Recitative. Ces jeux repondent mal a ma grandeur supreme (Jupiter) - Air. Que me Gloire, blle Princesse [Jupiter]
Track length1:09
Icy chacun s'engage (a Shepherd, a Shepherdess)
Track length1:27
Air for Both Shepherd and Shepherdess - Amoureux oiseaux (2 Shepherdess)
Track length1:32
Marais, M: Semele, Act IV Scene 3
Work length5:45
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Ah! Semele, C'est trop allarmer ma tendresse (Jupiter, Semele)
Track length2:04
Recitative. Suspends pour m'ecouter tes ondes redoutables (Jupiter)
Track length1:26
Recitative. Eh bien si vous m'aimez, declarez ma vistoire (Semele, Jupiter)
Track length1:41
Passepied for the Entr'acte
Track length0:34
Marais, M: Semele, Act V Scene 1
Work length2:36
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Air. Descendez cher amant; quittez les Cieux pour moy! (Semele)
Track length2:36
Marais, M: Semele, Act V Scene 2
Work length1:48
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. C'en est donc fait! (Adraste, Semele)
Track length1:48
Marais, M: Semele, Act V Scene 3
Work length12:34
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Prelude - Recitative. Le souverain des Rois en ces lieux va descendre (Cadmus, Adraste)
Track length1:21
Air. Qu'a mon zele icy tout reponde (Cadmus)
Track length0:45
Protege Dieu puissant un peuple qui t'implore (Chorus)
Track length1:55
Recitative. Tout tremble devant toy (Semele, Chorus)
Track length1:04
Air for the Men and Women from Thebes
Track length1:24
Duet. Descendez Dieu puissant, comblez nostre esperance (Semele, Cadmus)
Track length1:29
Here begins an Earthquake - Ciel! Quel bruit souterrain! (Chorus)
Track length1:56
Recitative. Peuples rassurez-vous, Jupiter va paroistre (Semele)
Track length0:20
Prelude - Quels eclairs menacants, quels terribles eclats (Chorus)
Track length2:20
Marais, M: Semele, Act V Scene 4
Work length3:20
  • Shannon Mercer, Bénédicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjördis Thébault, Anders J. Dahlin, Thomas Dolié, Lisandro Abadie, Marc Labonnette
  • Concert Spirituel Ensemble
  • Hervé Niquet
Recitative. Qu'attendez-vous icy! (Adraste, Semele, Jupiter)
Track length2:24
Prelude
Track length0:56

Awards and reviews

  • BBC Music Magazine
    June 2008
    Opera Choice

June 2008

Marais conjures up a brilliant succession of choruses, sensuous solos, dramatic ensembles, descriptive symphonies, ceremonial marches and dances. Hervé Niquet directs a tense, visceral performance, highlighting the all-pervasive influence of dance rhythms and the drive of the action. Mercer's Semele seduces and smouldering Jupiter (Thomas Dolié) succumbs. The results are dazzling.
5 out of 5 stars

20th April 2008

Niquet’s Concert Spirituel revels in this wonderfully representational music; the cast, headed by Shannon Mercer in the title role, with Thomas Dolié as Jupiter and Anders J Dahlin as Sémélé’s betrothed, Adraste, is always stylish. The noble bass baritone of the youthful Marc Labonette makes an outstanding impression.
4 out of 5 stars

Niquet's performance with Le Concert Spirituel has real buoyancy and expressive flexibility.
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