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('And even books are hunted by their Fates')
Adapted for broadcasting from the short story by Maurice Baring and produced by Terence Tiller with Dennis Arundell. Martin Benson
Laidman Browne , Oliver Burt
Ian Catford. Stephen Jack and Norman Shelley

Contributors

Story By:
Maurice Baring
Produced By:
Terence Tiller
Unknown:
Dennis Arundell.
Unknown:
Martin Benson
Unknown:
Laidman Browne
Unknown:
Oliver Burt
Unknown:
Ian Catford.
Unknown:
Stephen Jack
Unknown:
Norman Shelley

An Oratorio
Words by Congreve
Music by Handel
(edited by Julian Herbage )
(soprano) (soprano) (contralto) (contralto)
(counter-tenor) (tenor)
(tenor) (baritone) (bass)
Continuo :
Thurston Dart (harpsichord) and Raymond Clark (cello)
Geraint Jones (organ)
A section of the London Philharmonic Choir
(Chorus-Master. Frederic Jackson )
Philharmonia Orchestra (Leader, Max Salpeter )
Conducted by Constant Lambert
Act 1
The story of Semele, which is to be found in Ovid, was used by Congreve in 1707 as the basis of an opera libretto. Thirty-six years later Handel set to music an adaptation of this, and the resultant ' secular gratorio ' was produced at Covent Garden in February 1744. The plot concerns Jupiter's love for Semele, a mortal, who is betrothed to Athamas. Juno is wildly jealous and determined to take revenge for Jupiter's caddish behaviour (of which this is by no means the first sample). So she impersonates Semele's sister and persuades the hapless heroine to ask Jupiter to woo her* as a god instead of in human form. He does so, whereupon poor Semele is blasted by his lightnings and thunders, and soon expires. The piece ends in comparative happiness, however, since Athamas is united with Semele's sister, Ino, and Apollo puts in an appearance, declaring that ' from Semele's ashes a phoenix shall rise '; the phoenix being Bacchus, a god 'more mighty than Love.'
Harold Rutland

Contributors

Edited By:
Julian Herbage
Harpsichord:
Thurston Dart
Harpsichord:
Raymond Clark
Cello:
Geraint Jones
Chorus-Master:
Frederic Jackson
Leader:
Max Salpeter
Conducted By:
Constant Lambert

Third Programme

About this data

This data is drawn from the Radio Times magazine between 1923 and 2009. It shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was subject to change and may not be accurate. More