Rossini: Semiramide – Mark Elder

   in Classical Music (Sep, 2018)
Rossini’s Semiramide has flickered in and out of the public eye since its premiere in 1823 – it really depends on who is around to sing it. Only the overture and the soprano aria ‘Bel ragio lusinghier’ were regularly performed, the latter often as a canary showpiece. So in the 20th century it became known as a vehicle for Joan Sutherland, then Montserrat Caballé and June Anderson, all three partnered at times by the fearsome Marilyn Horne; more recently, Joyce DiDonato and Angela Meade have wreaked enjoyable Babylonian bedlam in the Hanging Gardens.

A concert performance at the Proms in 2016 presented the Semiramide of Albina Shagimuratova under the baton of …