Premiere: February 10, 1744, Covent Garden, London

After the success of 2005's sold out and internationally acclaimed performances of Gluck's Alceste, Opera Boston again collaborates with Martin Pearlman and the Boston Baroque Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus to present Handel's Semele starring Lisa Saffer, whose credits include Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare with Boston Baroque and the title role in Berg's Lulu with the English National Opera (Olivier Award nominee).  Mezzo-Soprano Margaret Lattimore makes her Opera Boston Debut in the role of Juno; she has appeared locally in recital with the Celebrity Series and in Harbison's Requiem with the BSO.

Conductor Martin Pearlman will lead the Boston Baroque period instrument orchestra and chorus in this production.  He previously conducted Semele in his Kennedy Center debut with the Washington National Opera.  Stage Director Sam Helfrich, who directed The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for Opera Boston, returns to stage this all-new production.