"Semele Soars to New Heights in Spectacular New York Debut"
Claus Guth's new production of Handel's opera-oratorio hybrid "Semele" premiered at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. The production, which is a coproduction with the Metropolitan Opera, received positive reviews for its entertaining and often sexy staging. The principal cast members delivered intimate and visually exposed performances, with soprano Brenda Rae as Semele standing out despite struggling to match the challenging score. The production's bittersweet ending was praised for its persuasiveness and clarity, but there are uncertainties about how it will scale from the smaller Prinzregententheater to the larger Metropolitan Opera.