Semiramide
Synopsis
In ancient Babylon, SEMIRAMIDE (Anderson) encourages her lover Assur (Ramey) to murder her husband, King Ninus. Her son, Ninius, disappears, believed dead, and Semiramide rules in her own right. 15 years later, as the opera opens, she is about to announce the name of her successor. Idreno (Olsen) and Assur are the leading candidates for the throne and the hand of Princess Azema (Shin), but Semiramide has taken a fancy to young Arsace (Horne), her victorious military leader who has been summoned back to Babylon. Only the high priest Oroe (Cheek) knows that Arsace is actually Ninius, spirited away to safety after the coup. As the queen announces Arsace as her successor, the ghost of her husband appears from his tomb, demanding that Arsace punish the late king’s murderers... Filmed at New York's Metropolitan Opera, John Copley's production of Rossini's last, longest and most elaborate dramatic opera brings together what many consider the definitive contemporary cast.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
December 22, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Brian Large
- Screenplay & Story
- Voltaire, Gaetano Rossi
- Original Score
- Gioachino Rossini, James Levine
- Original Title
- Semiramide
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 3h 39m
- Production Studios
- The Metropolitan Opera
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Brian Large
Voltaire, Gaetano Rossi
Gioachino Rossini, James Levine
Department Leadership Roster
Brian Large
Director
Gaetano Rossi
Writer
Gioachino Rossini
Original Music Composer
John Copley
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Semiramide.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Semiramide
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Semiramide about?
In ancient Babylon, SEMIRAMIDE (Anderson) encourages her lover Assur (Ramey) to murder her husband, King Ninus. Her son, Ninius, disappears, believed dead, and Semiramide rules in her own right. 15 years later, as the opera opens, she is about to announce the name of her successor. Idreno (Olsen) and Assur are the leading candidates for the throne and the hand of Princess Azema (Shin), but Semiramide has taken a fancy to young Arsace (Horne), her victorious military leader who has been summoned back to Babylon. Only the high priest Oroe (Cheek) knows that Arsace is actually Ninius, spirited away to safety after the coup. As the queen announces Arsace as her successor, the ghost of her husband appears from his tomb, demanding that Arsace punish the late king’s murderers... Filmed at New York's Metropolitan Opera, John Copley's production of Rossini's last, longest and most elaborate dramatic opera brings together what many consider the definitive contemporary cast.
Who directed Semiramide?
Semiramide was directed by Brian Large.
Who stars in Semiramide?
The principal cast of Semiramide includes June Anderson, Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey, Stanford Olsen, Young-Ok Shin.
When was Semiramide released and how long is it?
Semiramide was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 3h 39m.
Who composed the musical score for Semiramide?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Semiramide was composed by Gioachino Rossini, James Levine.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Semiramide?
Semiramide holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).