Giulio Cesare review – concert staging with plenty of sublime, and ridiculous, moments

Barbican, LondonHarry Bicket and the English Concert’s performance of Handel’s opera was full of compelling performances, most notably Louise Alder’s Cleopatra, Christophe Dumaux’s Caesar and John Holiday’s PtolemyThere is a passage at the end of Act 1 of Handel’s Giulio Cesare when a mother and son sing together, unaccompanied, united by loss. In this no-frills concert staging, mezzo-sopranos Beth Taylor (Cornelia) and Paula Murrihy (Sesto, a trouser role) faced each other, barely projecting, their vocal lines – locked in sighing parallel thirds – ringing absolutely true.It was one of the powerfully intense moments in a performance that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Also sublime: countertenor Christophe Dumaux’s lucid, liquid ornamentation as Caesar admits he has fallen for “Lydia” (Cleopatra in disguise), entering competitive musical dialogue with a solo violin and shrugging at a flurry of musical leaps he was never going to imitate. Or his extraordinary control of a single unaccompanied sustained note at the start of his heartfelt aria in the final act, shaping an achingly slow crescendo and decrescendo in a way that was little short of bewitching. Or John Holiday’s compelling turn as Cleopatra’s brother Ptolemy, his countertenor flexible, his ornamentation nimble. Or the English Concert under artistic director Harry Bicket – always energetic, always neat, never flamboyant – whose string tone was warm or frozen as the emotional temperature demanded, the horns burnished, the occasional woodwind solos elegantly shaped. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Taylor Swift fires back after being dragged into Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni legal feud

washington times

Comments

Culture

Taylor Swift fires back after being dragged into Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni legal feud

A museum opens at a former factory in the Czech Republic where Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews

Stacey Solomon says ‘I’m not taking it gracefully’ in honest response to losing Bafta

Jessie J says ‘acid reflux’ caused her to struggle during her Baftas performance

Ruth Jones accepts Bafta in voice of Gavin & Stacey’s Nessa with emotional message to James Corden

Virgin Island: What is a ‘surrogate partner’ sex therapist and is it legal?

Lil Wayne accused of abuse and dumping girlfriend via text on Mother’s Day

Ashley Judd recalls heartbreaking final conversation with mom Naomi before her death

'Dynamic closing bars sounded startlingly modern' - Yeol Eum Son, SCO/Emelyanychev

Who are Gen Z? What makes a millennial and which group are you?

Eurovision bosses can’t tame the ‘political beast’ of the competition

Another issue disrupts Newark's airport as Trump's transportation secretary plans reducing flights

Opening statements are expected Monday in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial

Feeling lucky? Wizards hope for fortunate draw at Monday's NBA draft lottery

Strictly winner Chris McCausland set to star on Have I Got News For You

The Excursions of Mr Brouček at the Barbican: 'laboured comedy in comic opera'

Who is Dave Blunts? The ghostwriter rapper behind Kanye West's new album

Twenty One Pilots fan ‘steals custom drum from band’ in outrageous footage from UK gig

Hollywood star admits ‘obnoxious’ moment he ripped off shirt on TV 35 years ago

Netflix fans rush to save ‘groundbreaking’ TV episode as petition gains 5,000 signatures

Gerard Depardieu trial verdict looms - this is what case is about and what it means for #MeToo in France

Rod Stewart reveals he’s on voice rest following previous health concerns

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga – Why Will Ferrell’s film got it right

Kevin Spacey lands new role in conspiracy thriller following sexual misconduct acquittal

Which countries don’t compete in Eurovision? Israel prepares for semi-finals amid mounting protests

Jessie J reveals what happened after ‘struggling’ during Bafta TV Awards performance

Jeff Brazier reveals dream to reboot his failed 00s gameshow from 19 years ago

Amazon Prime fans rush to binge ‘incredible’ thriller axed 10 years ago

Fans shocked to discover boxing star’s dad is 60s Eurovision icon

Eurovision’s 10 best winners of all time, from ABBA to Celine Dion

Every Eurovision winner since 1956, ranked from worst to best

Is the UK really hated at Eurovision? Here are the surprising stats

Ranvir Singh rushed into ‘urgent surgery’ after misdiagnosing deadly symptom

‘This is Marmite if everyone hated Marmite’: Graham Norton’s best (meanest) Eurovision commentary

Eurovision 2025 braces for protests as Israel participation draws criticism

How to vote in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025

Scots primary school begins Ukraine partnership to build friendships across borders

BAFTA Awards 2025: the biggest snubs and surprises on a night full of them

The victims of Fred and Rosemary West as A British Horror Story airs on Netflix

Snubbed! Why didn’t Gavin and Stacey get the love it deserved at the 2025 Baftas?

Bafta TV Awards afterparty sees hoards of celebs taking to London streets shoeless

The Game cast, filming locations and episode guide for Channel 5 drama

How Eurovision 2025 promises the comeback of a little-known musical trick

Tom Cruise was convinced he was going to ‘impale his skull’ during famous Mission: Impossible stunt

Bafta viewers left surprised over shock Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light snub: ‘I have no words’

Danny Dyer breaks Bafta TV Awards rule and has speech edited by BBC

Netflix users left confused as Black Mirror episode is removed for good

Tom Cruise shocks fans as he’s spotted standing on the roof of the BFI IMAX

The 31 most mind-blowing film twists of all time, explained

Eurovision 2025 semi-finals running order and how to watch live

Meet Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 entry KAJ and get to know their song Bara Bada Bastu

All hail Slow Horses: why does the best show on TV miss out on award wins year after year?

The redemption of Danny Dyer: how Rivals (and the Baftas) woke audiences up to the TV hardman's acting talent

What weather can we expect at Glastonbury Festival 2025?

Chelsea Arts Festival: new London even announces line-up

Jeremy Clarkson confirms Clarkson’s Farm ‘could end’ sooner than fans think

Ranvir Singh rushed to hospital for ‘urgent surgery’ after suffering ruptured appendix

Danny Dyer drops huge hint Rivals season 2 will be even steamier

Under-threat cinema listed as asset of community value

Bafta TV Awards winners: The full list of victorious stars and shows