Giulio Cesare

Giulio Cesare in Egitto () is an opera in three acts with music by George Frideric Handel. The Italian  libretto was written by Nicola Francesco Haym. It was based on an earlier libretto written by Giacomo Francesco Bussani. The opera was written for the Royal Academy of Music. 

The opera was first performed in London on 20 February 1724. It was a success. It was performed again in 1725, 1730, and 1732. It was also performed in France and Germany. 

Giulio Cesare was not performed in the 19th century. Many people had forgotten all about it.  It was not until 1922 that the opera was performed again. Since then, it has been performed around the world. It is Handel's best opera. It is known simply as Giulio Cesare.

 Roles 
 Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) - alto castrato 
 Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - soprano 
 Tolomeo, her brother and husband, King of Egypt - alto castrato 
 Cornelia, widow of Pompey - contralto 
 Sesto, her stepson - soprano 
 Achilla, Tolomeo's General - bass
 Curio, a praetor, Caesar's General - bass 
 Nireno, Cleopatra's and Tolomeo's servant - alto castrato 

 Other websites 
 Aria Database - Giulio Cesare arias and operatic roles database
 Metropolitan Opera Broadcast: Giulio Cesare 
 Opera Today - Giulio Cesare Libretto
 .  Filmed at Glyndebourne Opera House in East Sussex, England.  Opus Arte  DVD, released 01/04/2006, contains behind the scenes extras.

Category:Compositions by George Frideric Handel
Category:18th-century operas
Category:1720s works