A stunning recording of Handel’s masterpiece, starring some of New Zealand’s finest voices.

Witness The Wedding of the Year, filmed at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand. Handel’s Baroque masterpiece Semele is an exciting mix of opera and oratorio. Unlike his much more famous Messiah, this work scandalised audiences when first performed at Covent Garden theatre in 1774.

Drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the sensual story explores a love triangle between Jupiter, King of the Gods, his wife, the goddess Juno, and his lover, the mortal princess Semele…

“A remarkable production… a brilliant theatrical phenomenon, surprising, amusing and utterly engrossing” – Opera Magazine

“New Zealand Opera’s dazzling production, delivered with an ecclesiastical setting that is resonantly a propos.… not to be missed” – New Zealand Herald

“A triumph creating a stunning interpretation of one of the great Handel operas” – NZ Arts Review

This is theatre and music of the highest level of enjoyment with its delightful performance, gorgeous staging, and lush design. And how often do you get invited to the wedding of the year?” – New Zealand–Radio 13

Extra features: Cast gallery

Cast:
- Semele: Emma Pearson
- Jupiter / Apollo: Amitai Pati
- Juno / Ino: Sarah Castle
- Cadmus / Somnus: Paul Whelan
- Athamas: Stephen Diaz
- Iris: Chelsea Dolman
- Priest: Sashe Angelovski

Directors: Thomas de Mallet Burgess, Jaqueline Coats
Designer: Tracy Grant Lord
Lighting designer: Jo Kilgour
Directed for the screen by Rebecca Tansley

Duration: approx. 146 minutes
Audio: LPCM 2.0 + DTS-HD Master Audio Surround