FULL Giulio Cesare Basel 2021 Marcon Baráth Taylor Vistoli Raggiotti
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Giulio Cesare in Egitto
- Composer: Handel George Frideric aka Händel Georg Friedrich
- Libretto: Nicola Francesco Haym
- Venue & Opera Company: Landgasthof Riehen bei Basel, Switzerland
- Recorded: May 2021
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Emöke Baráth, Beth Taylor, Carlo Vistoli, Rachele Raggiotti, Juan Sancho, José Antonio López
- Conductor: Andrea Marcon
- Orchestra: La Cetra Barockorchester Basel
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Händel Festspiele Halle
- Date Published: 2011
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: haendel.digital FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
“Giulio Cesare in Egitto” is certainly one of the most popular of G. F. Handel’s numerous operas. Last but not least, this is probably due to the topic, as Julius Caesar’s arrival in Egypt is 48 BC. And his legendary love affair with the beautiful and mysterious Cleopatra, one of the most famous fabrics of antiquity. Handel also set the intrigue of love, vengeance, power, eros and politics to music.
The well-known version of the world premiere is not played here, but that of the London revival from 1725, which is being played for the first time since Handel’s time. What is special about this version is that the role of Cornelia’s son Sesto is no longer sung by a soprano, but by a tenor. Handel rewrote the role for Francesco Borosini, a famous Italian singer with whom he enjoyed working at the time. In addition to other changes, he composed three new virtuoso arias for the tenor, which can now only be heard very rarely