Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Dramma per musica in three acts to a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, first performed on 20 February 1724 at the King’s Theatre in London.
Coproduction Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Oper Leipzig, Opéra Orchestre, National de Montpellier, Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse
Staging : Damiano Michieletto Choreography : Thomas Wilhelm Set design : Paolo Fantin Costumes : Agostino Cavalca Hair and make-up : Cécile Kretschmar Lighting : Alessandro Carletti
CAST
Elizabeth DeShong : Giulio Cesare Claudia Pavone : Cleopatra Nils Wanderer : Tolomeo Key’mon Murrah : Sesto Rose Naggar-Tremblay : Cornelia William Shelton : Nireno Edwin Fardini : Achilla Adrien Fournaison : Curio
Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset, direction et harpsichord
“I’m delighted to be reviving this show in Toulouse, one of our favourite stops, where we’ve already performed The Coronation of Poppea, Témistocle by J.-C. Bach, Les Indes Galantes, Castor et Pollux and Orphée by Gluck. We’re delighted to be back with these great hits from Giulio Cesare ! If we are joined once again by the formidable Elizabeth DeShong in the role of Julius Caesar, I haven’t yet had the chance to work with the other soloists in this cast. However, I have been eyeing them for a long time ! The American countertenor Key’mon Murrah is truly extraordinary. So is William Shelton. Rose Naggar-Tremblay is also brilliant and I discovered Edwin Fardini a few years ago as I was immediately struck by his timbre and expressiveness. I met Damiano Michieletto at the Scala in Milan many years ago. He’s a director who excels at revisiting works. He has a perfect mastery of the Italian touch with a hint of humour.”
– Christophe Rousset