GREAT PERFORMANCES Season 12 Continues Sunday, July 8 on PBS with Rossini's SEMIRAMIDE

Season 12 of GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET continues Sunday, July 8 on PBS (check local listings) with a rare Met performance of Rossini's masterpiece Semiramide, starring Angela Meade as the titular Queen of BABYLON and Elizabeth DeShong as the warrior Arsace. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov and Ryan Speedo Greencomplete the all-star Bel Canto cast.

John Copley's production takes place in Ancient Babylon, where Assur comes to the temple of Baal in hopes that Queen Semiramide will choose him as the successor to the fallen King Nino. His plans for the throne are quickly thwarted by the arrival of the warrior Arsace, who was summoned by the queen and is announced to become both king and her husband. The ghost of Nino appears and proclaims that the warrior will reign, but only after a victim is sacrificed in atonement, leading Arsace to vow vengeance. Semiramide later denies Assur's claim that she promised her hand in marriage in return for arranging Nino's murder. Arsace soon learns that he is the true crown prince of Babylon, the long lost son of Nino and Semiramide, and that the queen and Assur are responsible for his father's assassination. Arsace reveals himself to Semiramide as her son, but cannot bring himself to kill his mother, against her orders. Semiramide attempts to save Arsace from Assur, who is waiting to ambush Arsace at Nino's tomb, but her heroic effort ends tragically at the hands of her son when she is mistaken for her accomplice in the dark.Maurizio Benini conducts. Susanna Phillips hosts.

Short TV Listing:

See Rossini's masterpiece with Angela Meade as the Queen of BABYLON and Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace. (99/100)

Long TV Listing:

Experience Rossini's masterpiece starring Angela Meade as Queen Semiramide and Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, the Queen's fiancé and her own son. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov and Ryan Speedo Green complete the cast. Maurizio Benini conducts. (246/250)

Airdates:

National: Sunday, July 8 at 12:00 p.m. on PBS

New York metro area: Sunday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m. on THIRTEEN

Notable Talent:

Angela Meade - Semiramide

Elizabeth DeShong - Arsace

Ildar Abdrazakov - Assur

Javier Camarena - Idreno

Ryan Speedo Green - Oroe

Run time: 3.5 hours

Production Credits:

Maurizio Benini - Conductor

John Copley - Production

John Conklin - Set Designer

Michael Stennett - Costume Designer

Gil Wechsler - Lighting Designer

For the Met, Matthew Diamond directs the telecast. Tim Martyn is music producer. Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park are supervising producers, and Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik are producers. Peter Gelb is executive producer. For Great Performances, Bill O'Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer.

Underwriters:

Corporate support for GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET is provided by Toll Brothers, America's luxury home builder®. Major funding for the Met Opera presentation is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. This Great Performancespresentation is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Agnes Varis Trust, and public television viewers.

Series Overview:

Great Performances at the Met is a presentation of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, bringing the best of the Metropolitan Opera into the homes of classical music fans across the United States.

Photo Credit: Ken Howard/Met Opera