Singer

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra are one of the most famous love couples in human history. It's no wonder, then, that artists from all disciplines—from art to theater to film—have been inspired by the passionate relationship between the Roman general and the Egyptian pharaoh. The most impressive musical interpretation was achieved 300 years ago by George Frideric Handel in his opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto," which, with its rich instrumentation and numerous musical ideas, remains one of the milestones of Baroque heroic opera. Now, the work will be performed for the first time in concert at the Elbphilharmonie with a prominent cast.

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Handel: Julius Caesar / Francesco Corti

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Sometimes it’s time to throw a party! With this music theatre creation, Eric Gauthier invites you to celebrate with us and explore why we humans actually celebrate. To this end, he brings a celebration to the stage with singers and dancers, the Staatsopernchor and the Staatsorchester. To be more precise, many celebrations: La Fest is a journey through the various festive occasions in a person’s life, full of memories of dinner parties, birthdays and dancing through wedding nights, of surprise guests and inevitable farewells. The celebrations of a life as opera. Or the other way round: opera as a celebration of life, its highs and lows. And an embrace of its transience. No celebration without music: Benjamin Bayl has put together a diverse mix of arias, choirs and dances from over 200 years of baroque music. Let’s celebrate!

The Fest

Stuttgart Opera

The musicians of Concerto Köln play with such freshness, boldness, and joy that it's hard to believe: The Cologne ensemble is celebrating its 40th birthday! To celebrate, they'll perform Handel's light-hearted opera "Flavio, Rè di Longobardi," starring the incomparable Julia Lezhneva and countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic.

Handel: Flavio, Rè de Longobardi - Anniversary Concert 40 Years of Concerto Köln

Cologne Philharmonie

The gruesome image presented right at the beginning of Handel's opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto (1724) would warrant a trigger warning, given today's sensitivities. After the welcoming chorus for Caesar and the solemn declarations of peace, a severed human head appears—the head of Caesar's political opponent, the Senate favorite Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus.

Giulio Cesare in Egypt

House for Mozart

Right at the beginning of George Frideric Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto (1724), a gruesome image is shown: the severed head of Gnaeus Pompeius. Caesar's reaction raises questions: Is he outraged by the murder, its brutality, or the loss of control? The image of the head forces us to examine the rationality of political violence. The opera thus becomes a reflection on power, rivalry, and irreconcilability, addressing existential threats in a space dominated by combat. The plot draws on the following historical background: After the Battle of Pharsalus, Pompey fled from Caesar to Egypt, where he was killed by Achillas. Caesar sharply condemned the bloody deed against a Roman and subsequently defeated the Egyptians in the Alexandrian War as a token of atonement. George Frideric Handel and librettist Nicola Franceso Haym created characters that transcend political camps and are humanly touching. In the new Salzburg production, Dmitri Tcherniakov directs, with Emmanuelle Haïm conducting – a constellation of explosive creative power. Featuring, among others, Christophe Dumaux (Giulio Cesare), Olga Kulchynska (Cleopatra), Lucile Richardot (Cornelia), Federico Fiorio (Sesto), Yuriy Mynenko (Tolomeo), Andrey Zhilikhovsky (Achilla), Jake Ingbar (Nireno), Robert Raso (Curio), the Salzburg Bach Choir,and the Le Concert d'Astrée Orchestra. At the Festival Opening Ceremony, we invite you to an exclusive insight into the stage orchestra rehearsal. The premiere of Giulio Cesare in Egitto will take place on July 26.

Giulio Cesare In Egitto

Celebrations are states of exception where everyday life gets transformed. Even at its very beginning the musical form of opera had a close liaison with festivities. But because the once exclusive festive music should now belong to everyone, we invite you to join us for a celebration in the opera house. In his first staging of a music theatre, Eric Gauthier explores the reasons why and how people celebrate. Together with singers, dancers, choir and orchestra, the audience journeys through the various kinds of a lifetime’s festivities. On the playlist: two centuries of vocal and dance music, including unheard rarities.

The Staatstheater Stuttgart

She has a difficult personality – but a nice nose! This opinion expressed by a short statured Gaul is just one of the many legends surrounding the captivating pharaoh. Cleopatra's ability to stun the greats of her time has always served as a blessing for those in the entertainment business who had a keen eye for good material. Even though Handel's timeless smash hit bears the title of the Roman dictator, the Egyptian usually leads by a nose in this gem of the operatic repertoire. The way she warbles, charms, suffers, sobs and triumphs is breathtakingly beautiful.

Countertenor

Yuriy Mynenko

Events

Upcoming events

13 - 27 Jun, 2026

Giulio Cesare in Egitto · Oper Leipzig

Past events

Feb 12, 2026

Handel: Julius Caesar / Francesco Corti · Elbphilharmonie

Nov 20 - Dec 31, 2025

The Fest · Staatsoper Stuttgart

Future and recently performed repertoire

Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare by Handel

Salzburger Festspiele

Giulio Cesare in Giulio Cesare in Egitto by Handel

Oper Leipzig

Vitige in Flavio, re de' Longobardi by Handel

Concerto Köln

About

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