Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (complete opera recorded in 2023)

Set during the Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE), Handel's Giulio Cesare is an intense drama filled with romance, tragedy and political intrigue. The plot centres on Cleopatra's campaign to seduce Julius Caesar in order to enlist his support in her becoming Queen of Egypt. Handel's music breathes the atmosphere of the Baroque with virtuosic vocal fireworks and subtle arias. This acclaimed production is given a modern setting populated by power-hungry oligarchs who are placed by director Calixto Bieito into 'a digital dream world in a desert paradise'.

Spanish opera and theatre director Calixto Bieito, renowned for his visceral and visually striking approach, impressed audiences and critics with his gripping modern interpretation of Giulio Cesare. Bieito had a first-class ensemble of Handel singers at his disposal for this production, including two rising opera stars that both made their debut with Dutch National Opera - French soprano Julie Fuchs as Cleopatra, and Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Molinari as Sesto. In addition, French countertenor Christophe Dumaux, who has made a name for himself as a Handel specialist, returned to Dutch National Opera in the opera's title role.

Making their Naxos debut here, both conductor Emmanuelle Haïm, a specialist in Baroque repertoire and with an impressive and much-praised discography to her name, and her ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée, also made their Dutch National Opera debut with this production.