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Alternating in the title role were the well established American soprano Lisa Saffer and a somewhat lesser known artist, Nathalie Paulin, who sang the Phoenix première. Both vocally and histrionically Paulin was a wonderful surprise. She looked like a movie star and was able to handle every coloratura ornament with ease, never repeating a melody in exactly the same way it had been sung before.

Countertenor David Walker was a smooth and lyrical Athamas. He sang with great elegance and seemed a fine consort for Semele until Scott Ramsay, the Jupiter, appeared and won her over with his more virile and emotionally intense tones.

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