Handel: Giulio Cesare

I loved it.
Unlike the first three reviewers... I loved it. They described it accurately... three counter tenors, set it the warehouse of a museum, Zazzo not particularly macho, etc. etc. BUT it was a completely different concept from what people are used to. First Zazzo was fantastic at giving Natalie space for her comedic talents and doing that dance with her. Second Cleopatra was developed as a very young, good humored, emotional woman not a sophisticated queen. Third the second counter tenor (Dumaux singing Tolemeo) was a fantastic bad guy and his acting and singing were superb. Incidentally he sang Tolemeo in the famous Glyndebourne production,and this one, and this year's at the Met. Why... because he's super at it. Next Cornelia and Sesto were both excellent. The Egyptian bad guy General whose name eludes me was quite good.
The most important difference was that I am not put off by nontraditional productions. Among these there are, of course, plenty of not so good productions, but...

SINGING OVERWHELMED BY STAGE BUSINESS
Guilio Cesare is a static, stand-and-deliver piece in the Baroque tradition of opera, with one aria following another and very little ensemble or choral music. To compensate, the creative team chose the storage basement/warehouse of a museum in which the singers come to life from statuary or paintings. So far so good. Superb singer-actor Natalie Dessay predictably delivers a superb performance. The remainder of the cast are a mixed bag, but all at least are acceptable. In contrast to the Beverly Sills recording from the 70's, this production uses three countertenors, a vocal type that not all will find pleasing.

I would have given a 4 or 5 star rating for the music, despite the countertenors. But apparently to keep the viewer from becoming bored, this production includes museum staff constantly in motion as they work on the objects in storage, moving pieces here and there, sometimes interacting with the singers (who themselves are objects) and otherwise distracting from the...

A Splendid, Unforgettable Production
Only opera can do justice to a story of this magnitude--and Natalie Dessay embodies her role to perfection. Of course, Handel is always a joy!

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