Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Italian for "Julius Caesar in Egypt", HWV 17), commonly known as Giulio Cesare, is a dramma per musica (opera seria) in three acts composed for the Royal Academy of Music by George Frideric Handel on February 20, 1724. The libretto was written by Nicola Francesco Haym who used an earlier libretto by Giacomo Francesco Bussani, which had been set to music by Antonio Sartorio (1676).
The opera was a success at its first performances, was frequently revived by Handel in his subsequent opera seasons and is now one of the most often performed Baroque operas.
The opera's plot is loosely based on historic events during the Roman Civil War of 49–45 BC.
Roles - Voice type - First performance, 20 February 1724. Performers:
Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) - alto castrato - Francesco Bernardi ("Senesino")
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - soprano - Francesca Cuzzoni
Tolomeo, her brother, King of Egypt - alto castrato - Gaetano Berenstadt
Cornelia, widow of Pompey - contralto - Anastasia Robinson
Sesto, her stepson - soprano (en travesti) - Margherita Durastanti
Achilla, Tolomeo's General - bass - Giuseppe Maria Boschi
Nireno, Cleopatra's and Tolomeo's servant - alto castrato - Giuseppe Bigonzi
Act I. Scene 4. "Svegliatevi nel core"
Act I. Scene 8. "Va tacito e nascosto"
Act 2.
"V'adoro, pupille" Cleopatra seduces Caesar.
Act I. Scene 4. "Svegliatevi nel core"
Act I. Scene 8. "Va tacito e nascosto"
Act 2.
"V'adoro, pupille" Cleopatra seduces Caesar.
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