Harmonia Mundi: HMD9909008/09

Handel: Giulio Cesare

Here is what is probably Handel's most accomplished opera: the heir to L'incoronazione di Poppea with respect to the villainy of some of its characters, but also the Baroque ancestor of certain Romantic operas!

Scrupulously based on historical characters, this work illustrates many different facets of the human soul, and also boasts perhaps the most sumptuous orchestral textures Handel ever conceived, magnificently brought out by Lars Ulrik Mortensen in this production from the Copenhagen Opera.

Francisco Negrin’s transposition of the opera to the universe of modern war and Anthony Baker’s refined designs place Andreas Scholl (Giulio Cesare) and the other soloists in an unsettling, crepuscular atmosphere that is highly contemporary.

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Handel: Giulio Cesare

0794881848690

HMD9909008/09

Handel: Giulio Cesare

Andreas Scholl (Giulio Cesare), Inger Dam-Jensen (Cleopatra), Randi Steene (Cornelia), Tuva Semmingsen (Sesto), Christopher Robson (Tolomeo), Palle Knudsen (Achilla) & James Huw Jeffries (Nireno)

Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen

Direction: Francisco Negrin, Design & costumes: Anthony Baker

"This is certainly the most insightful and intelligent for drama, and probably also the best for all-round musical consistency." Gramophone

DVD Video

Region: 0

Format: NTSC

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Harmonia Mundi - HMD9909008/09

(DVD Video - 2 discs)

£22.49 (£19.14 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

For more recordings of this work, click here.

Press comments:

'... probably the best DVD version of Giulio Cesare and one of the best versions of this much-recorded opera in any format. I shall be surprised if I receive as clearly-deserving a Recording of the Month on CD or DVD for some time.' Musicweb

'Andreas Scholl’s singing is consistently astute, and his acting has advanced considerably in subtlety since his operatic debut in Glyndebourne’s Rodelinda nearly a decade ago. However, this is an excellent team performance. Inger Dam-Jensen performs with the ideal sincerity and emotiveness that Cleopatra’s character too often lacks in superficial productions. Tuva Semmingsen’s Sesto sings with crystal-clear phrasing (“Cara speme” is heart-stopping). Christopher Robson’s singing is weak but his acting as the nasty Tolomeo is superb in its timing of gestures (there is plenty of comedy in his scenes, but he is brutal and menacing rather than the simply camp idiot too often portrayed onstage).'

'Lars Ulrik Mortensen’s direction of the music from his harpsichord is well nigh perfect. This is not the most flamboyant or fancy Giulio Cesare on DVD, but it is certainly the most insightful and intelligent for drama, and probably also the best for all-round musical consistency.' Gramophone

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