Semiramide

Semiramide is an opera by Gioachino Rossini, based on a libretto by Gaetano Rossi drawn from Voltaire's tragedy, and was the composer's final opera written for the Italian stage. The plot follows the legendary Babylonian queen Semiramide through a story of intrigue, supernatural interventions, and a tragic downfall. The work stands as a peak of bel canto art, featuring virtuosic arias and duets and an unusually prominent chorus that comments on the action like an ancient Greek chorus.