Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Conductor Director Designer Choreographer Lighting Designer Assistant Director Assistant to the Choreographer Cast (in order of singing) Julius Caesar (Giulio Cesare) Curio, a Roman tribune Cornelia, Pompey’s widow Sextus (Sesto), son to Cornelia and Pompey Achilla, general and counsellor to Ptolemy Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt Nireno, Cleopatra’s eunuch Ptolemy (Tolomeo), King of Egypt and Cleopatra’s brother Musical Preparation Richard Hickox Francisco Negrin Anthony Baker Gregory Nash Davy Cunningham Paul Curran Mathew Barclay Graham Pushee Richard Alexander Rosemary Gunn Elizabeth Campbell Stephen Bennett Yvonne Kenny Rodney Gilchrist Andrew Dalton Narelle French Stephanie Holmes Julia de Plater Continuo Harpsichord Continuo Cello Continuo Theorbo Violin Solo Horn Solo Italian Language Coach Subtitles Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Narelle French Kate Morgan Tommie Anderson Tony Gault Geoff Collinson Renato Fresia Brian FitzGerald Marcus Hodgson Crissie Higgins Sarah Thompson Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Concertmaster Semyon Kobets Harpsichord supplied and prepared by Carey Beebe For Opera Australia General Manager Artistic Director Director of Operations Technical Administrator Television / Radio Producer Donald McDonald AC Moffatt Oxenbould AM Russell Mitchell Noel Staunton Cheryl Forrest-Smith 076 2745 Produced for television in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Executive Producer Producer and Director Sound Producer Lighting Director Gil Brealey Peter Butler Malcolm Batty David Arthur Front and cover photographs Stuart Bryce (Graham Pushee) Kiren Chang (Yvonne Kenny) Neil Duncan Back cover photograph OPERA AUSTRALIA Julius Caesar George Frideric Handel FEATURING GRAHAM PUSHEE • YVONNE KENNY • ELIZABETH CAMPBELL ROSEMARY GUNN • ANDREW DALTON • STEPHEN BENNETT RODNEY GILCHRIST • RICHARD ALEXANDER OPERA AUSTRALIA Julius Caesar by George Frideric Handel Libretto by Nicola Haym The New Handel edition of Julius Caesar published by Bärenreiter is performed by arrangement with Faber Music London. Act Two Caesar is now deeply in love with Lydia, still unaware she is Cleopatra. At the same time, Cornelia is being pursued by both Achilla and Ptolemy, and rebuffs them both. Ptolemy, incensed, condemns her to become part of his harem. Cleopatra, receiving Caesar in her apartments, realises that she truly loves him. Their tryst is interrupted by Achilla’s attack on Caesar’s forces and Cleopatra reveals her true identity and her love. Caesar leaves to fight Achilla. Caesar is wounded and leaps into the sea, leaving Cleopatra to grieve for her lost love. In the harem, Sextus attacks Ptolemy, but is stopped by Achilla arriving with news of Caesar’s supposed death. Achilla claims the hand of Cornelia, which Ptolemy had promised as his reward, but Ptolemy refuses. The betrayed Achilla leaves, Act One Egypt, 48 BC vowing revenge. Julius Caesar has arrived in Egypt, having defeated his political rival and former Act Three son-in-law, the noble Pompey. He arrives in an Egypt divided, with Ptolemy Achilla’s hatred for Ptolemy and love for Cornelia compel him to change sides and his sister Cleopatra rivals for the throne. General Achilla offers Caesar just before battle. Ptolemy attacks and wins, wounding Achilla and capturing tributes on behalf of Ptolemy – including the severed head of Pompey. Caesar, Cleopatra. The battlefield is quiet, and the sea returns the wounded Caesar. a magnanimous victor, is horrified, and sends Achilla back to Ptolemy with a Sextus finds the dying Achilla, who gives Sextus his army to lead in a last battle message of disgust and contempt. Pompey’s widow Cornelia grieves, and her against Ptolemy. Cleopatra, a prisoner in her rooms, contemplates suicide. son Sextus swears vengeance. As she bids her friends farewell, Caesar bursts in to rescue her. Meanwhile, Cleopatra determines to win political advantage by seducing Caesar and, disguised as Lydia, her lady-in-waiting, succeeds. Her brother Ptolemy however, is plotting Caesar’s assassination with Achilla. When Caesar arrives at Ptolemy’s palace, he recognises the threat and humiliates Ptolemy. Sextus challenges Ptolemy to a duel. The frustrated Ptolemy confines Sextus to his palace and assigns Cornelia to work in the gardens of his harem. Cornelia is once again obliged to repel Ptolemy’s advances. She draws a dagger on him, but is discovered by Sextus, who claims the right of retribution and kills him. Cornelia can at last live in peace, her husband avenged. Caesar crowns Cleopatra Queen of Egypt. They proclaim their undying love for one another as the people celebrate the return of peace.