Opera in 3 acts
Libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym
First performed February 10 1724, London
This production first seen March 24 2024
Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before curtain up, available here shortly before opening night, and everywhere where podcasts can be found.
Sung in Italian with German & English surtitles
Giulio Cesare Jurij Mynenko
Cleopatra Kateryna Kasper
Cornelia Zanda Švēde / Cláudia Ribas
Sesto Cecelia Hall / Bianca Andrew
Tolomeo Lawrence Zazzo
Achilla Sebastian Geyer / Erik van Heyningen
Curio Pete Thanapat
Nireno Rafał Tomkiewicz / Iurii Iushkevich
Alexandria, 48 BC. – Cleopatra and her younger brother Tolomeo are fighting for sovereignty over Egypt. Caesar, who beat his adversary Pompey and followed him to Egypt, enters Alexandria, where the defeated man’s seeking refuge. Pompey’s wife Cornelia and son Sesto acknowledge Cesare’s victory, but beg him to make peace with his rival. The Roman commander‘s willing, but Tolomeo’s had Pompey killed, to make a good impression on Caesar. The Emperor‘s horrified by the crime, Cornelia falls into deep despair and Sesto swears revenge. Cleopatra sees a chance of winning Caesar’s favour and ascending the Egyptian throne with his help. Disguised as a servant called Lydia, she approaches Caesar, who falls under her spell at once. Tolomeo’s adviser and military commander Achilla’s fascinated by Cornelia. The widowed Roman woman rejects his advances with contempt. Achilla offers Tolomeo a deal: He declares himself ready to murder Cesare, if he can marry Cornelia. When Sesto challenges Tolomeo to a duel, he and his mother are arrested. Act 2 Lydia, alias Cleopatra and Caesar meet at »Parnassus«, a place of longing. They fall in love. Achilla tries again, using force, to win Cornelia for himself. In vain. He turns to Tolomeo, who dismisses him scornfully. The Egyptian King desires Cornelia too and has her taken to his harem. Caesar finds out from his companion Curio that Tolomeo wants to kill him. Cleopatra reveals her true identity and promises to help the Romans. Caesar flees. Achilla calls on Tolomeo to fight Cleopatra’s and the Roman troops. Caesar apparently drowned at sea trying to escape. When Tolomeo refuses to give Achilla Cornelia’s hand as promised, the military commander feels betrayed and changes sides. Act 3 Tolomeo returns victorious from battle and humiliates his sister. Mortally wounded, Achilla gives Sesto his ring, which guarantees allegiance from Tolomeo’s troops. Caesar, who managed to swim ashore, takes command with this ring, freeing Cleopatra and bringing her to safety. Tolomeo’s been trying to take what Cornelia won’t give him by force. Sesto bursts in, overpowers the Egyptian King and kills him. Caesar crowns Cleopatra Queen of Egypt. They profess their love and fidelity.
Handel turned one of the world’s most famous love stories into one of his greatest hits. An opera, which is a dramatic love story and political thriller. When Cesare and Cleopatra met in Alexandria in BC 48 both were caught up in power struggles – he for supremacy in Rome, she for the Egyptian throne. The dramatic events taking place around them turn, in matter of seconds, into situations resulting in murder and manslaughter.
Handel’s music keeps pace with this dynamic – right up to the traditional Lieto fine, when the couple are finally united and Cesare crowns Cleopatra Queen of Egypt. Until then Nadja Loschky’s production tells the story in a gripping kaleidoscope of human highs and lows.
