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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.