Julius Caesar

I always did like Handel's music, and watching various productions of his operas makes me appreciate it all the more. This Glyndebourne David McVicar-directed production is my favourite of the five Handel productions I've seen in a row over the past week or so, the others being in order of preference ENO's Xerxes, Zurich's Semele, (I think) ENO's Rinaldo and ENO'S Ariodante. Some might turn up their noses at how the very end is staged, I personally didn't mind it because not only have I seen more infuriating staging's elsewhere but everything else is so well done. David McVicar has always been a very interesting director, of course there have been some touches I've found questionable like in the Covent Garden production of Faust, but his Rigoletto especially is one of the better productions available. Here his directing is always fluid and involving, some of the best ever work he's done in my opinion. The costumes and sets are sumptuous, and the dancing is full of zest and is niftily choreographed. The musical aspect of the performance is superb, the music is gorgeous and is stylishly and beautifully performed by the orchestra and William Christie's conducting is buoyant. Of the many fine performances here, the biggest shout out goes to Danielle De Niese, whose Cleopatra is a revelation, beautiful, always engaging to watch and with a voice that fills the room and delights with its clear quality. Sarah Connolly's Cesare is a perfect match, she does convince as a man and her mezzo voice and stage presence are incredibly powerful handling her semi-quaver runs with magisterial ease. Angelika Kirchsclager is incredible as Sesto, Sesto has some of the opera's best music, and Kirchsclager's intensity, fury and passion really comes through here. Rachid Ben Abdeslam is an excellent Nerino, while not quite as sinister as Christopher Robson Christophe Dumax is a deliciously vindictive Tolomeo and as Achilla Christopher Maltman dominates the stage and yet another person who sings powerfully while never losing Handel's distinctive style. All in all, simply wonderful, I highly recommend it and De Niese, Christie and McVicar's interviews which are very interesting and full of enthusiasm. 10/10 Bethany Cox