Sesto in Handel’s GIULIO CESARE is a boy from Rome whose father, Pompey the Great, has been treacherously murdered by Egyptian agents hoping to curry favor with Caesar. In his beautiful Act 1 aria “Cara speme” he sings about the hope (i.e. that he will one day avenge his father) which begins to flatter his heart. At Seattle Opera in 2007, the great American mezzo Kristine Jepson starred as Sesto. Gary Thor Wedow conducted the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Bill Mohn.

“Cara speme” from GIULIO CESARE

Cleopatra is in a bad way as the third act of GIULIO CESARE begins: defeated and captured by Tolomeo, with her ally Caesar missing or dead, she sings one of Handel’s noblest melodies, “Piangerò la sorte mia” (I will weep for my fate, so wicked and cruel, as long as I shall have life in my breast.” Christine Brandes made her Seattle Opera vocal debut in 2007 singing this role, with Gary Thor Wedow conducting the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Bill Mohn.

Christine Brandes sings “Piangerò” from GIULIO CESARE

French soprano Alexandra Deshorties returned to Seattle Opera to sing Cleopatra in GIULIO CESARE in 2007. Her dark night of the soul begins toward the end of Act Two, when Caesar flees an ambush by jumping out a tall window and onto rocks near the sea, leaving Cleopatra to rail at the gods: “Se pietà di me non senti, giusto ciel, io morirò” (If you don’t feel pity for me, righteous heaven, I shall die). Gary Thor Wedow conducted the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Bill Mohn.

“Se pietà” from GIULIO CESARE

Caesar sings “Va tacito” toward the end of Act One of GIULIO CESARE, when he’s a guest in the Egyptian court of Tolomeo. Although he hasn’t yet fallen for Cleopatra, Caesare doesn’t like or trust Tolomeo; yet he knows better than to reveal his true intentions to this dangerous tyrant: “Va tacito e nascosto, quand’avido è di preda, l’astuto cacciator” (The clever hunter moves, silently and hidden, when he’s stalking his prey). Horn obbligato furthers Handel’s ‘hunting’ metaphor. At Seattle Opera in 2007, British mezzo Anna Burford made her US debut singing Caesar. Gary Thor Wedow conducted Mark Robbins (horn) and the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Bill Mohn.

“Va tacito” from GIULIO CESARE

Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is a leading American opera company. The company presents the classics of the European repertoire as well as new works of American opera. Frequent productions of Wagner's RING, beginning in 1975, established the company's worldwide reputation. Seattle Opera usually presents five opera productions each year.

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