The Il Pomo d'Oro ensemble will give two concerto performances of this Baroque opera by Georg Friedrich Händel at the Teatro Real on 19 and 21 February.
It was composed in 1724 and is one of Händel's most acclaimed and successful operas, both now and in his day. It is loosely based on the historical events surrounding Julius Caesar's visit to Egypt in 48 BC, during his clash with Pompey.
Combining history, politics, betrayal and love, it tells of Julius Caesar's arrival in Egypt after defeating his rival Pompey in battle in the Second Roman Civil War. Once there, he is given the brutal news that Pompey has been assassinated under the orders of the young king Ptolemy, who is looking to win Caesar's favour. However, Casear is horrified by such an act. Pompey's widow, Cornelia, and her son Sextus swear to avenge his death. Meanwhile, Cleopatra, Ptolemy's sister who seeks to take the throne, plans to seduce Caesar to win his support and rise to power.
Cleopatra disguises herself and wins Caesar's heart under the name of Lydia. Through strategies and manipulation, a political and emotional struggle unravels. Finally, Sextus manages to kill Ptolemy, avenging his father’s death, and Caesar supports Cleopatra as the legitimate Queen of Egypt.
Il Pomo D'Oro is an orchestra founded in 2012, specialising in opera and instrumental recitals. With different ensembles, it has the best soloists and instrumentalists of today. This band has been conducted by prestigious conductors, such as Riccardo Minasi, Stefano Montanari, George Petrou or Enrico Onofri. Francesco Corti has been its chief conductor since 2019. Francesco Corti has been its principal conductor since 2019.
Artistic File:
- Musical Conductor - Francesco Corti
Cast:
- Julius Caesar - Jakub Józef Orliński
- Curio - Marco Saccardin
- Cornelio - Beth Taylor
- Sextus - Sophie Rennert
- Cleopatra - Sabine Devieilhe
- Ptolemy - Yuri Minenko
- Orchestra - Il Pomo d'Oro
Programme:
Opera in Three Acts
- Music- Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
- Libretto - Nicola Francesco Haym, based on the play of the same name (1677) by Francesco Bussani
- Opera In concerto version
