JULIUS CAESAR (Handel)

Julius Caesar is Handel's most famous work for opera. The music is typical of his concerti and chamber style works, with trumpet fanfares and softer arpeggios and melodies for the love scenes to contrast the pomp of royalty. Julius Caesar falls in love with Cleopatra, who is disguised as Lydia, a servant. Singing the role of Cornelia is Maureen Forrester, a talented contralto and the role of Sextus by the mezzo soprano Beverly Wolff. Of course, Beverly Sill's Cleopatra is the highlight of this recording. The melancholy aria "Piangero" is full of lyrical beauty and sadness that reduces one to tears. Sills delivers the moment of pathos perfectly. Her first aria is coloratura magic and her high notes seem to touch the stars, they are fast, perfectly paced and in tune with the Baroque music. Norman Treigle is taking over a role that originally went to castrati, but he is doing a fine job. He is a remarkable bass baritone as well as actor. This recording is a must have for fans of Sills and for fans of Handelian opera. An English version of this opera is available with Janet Baker as Julius Ceasar and Valerie Masterson as Cleopatra. It's an equally excellent recording.

Good
1.A young Sills as Cleopatra
2.Rudel does a wonderful job conducting
3.digitally remastered to cut out background hiss
4.overall amazing cast
5.yay harpsichord
Bad
1.castrati roles sung by men (with exception of Sesto)
2.score was cut to fit the recording onto records (1967) but, officially, it's actually noted in the score that some arias (i.e. Piangero) can be moved to certain scenes.

This is just an amazing recording, plain and simple. It is THE best recording I have been able to find (with Sills in it).