What wonderful acting! Caesar is so enthralled he is practically panting and ready to pass out ... looks like he is on the verge of having an orgasm in his pants!
Out of context it seems weird, but it makes sense when you see the whole thing--all 4.5 hours of it! It's a wild and beautiful and provocative production, as strange as the opera itself. Also it's from the mid-1980s.
The "enchanting music coming down from heaven" is by the greatest composer who ever walked among us; surely Handel's music is the closest we mortals can come to the divine.
I've heard the music of Mozart, J.S. Bach, Beethoven and a handful of other truly great and inspired composers; for me, and I repeat what I said earlier, the music of Handel is the closest we mortals can come to the divine. Beethoven himself considered Handel to be the greatest of all. Chacun a son gout!
@crewmantle I love the singers in this also, but I couldn't even watch the production. It was so ridiculous that it took away from the story. Caesar and Cleopatra were so wonderful, I wish they could have been in a more practical version....
Loved the orchestra of Egyptian handmaidens. Why is Caesar dressed like a chartered accountant? And who put him in sweat pants? It's impossible to believe that Cleopatra could love, or even pretend to love, a man in sweat pants. How could a costume designer subject an audience to such a nauseating sight?
I was thinking about the chartered accountant attire, and here is my own explanation; They filmed during a preliminary dress rehearsal whereas his Julius Caesar costume was not yet ready (so blame the costume crew). He moolights as a chartered accountant (or somethin'), then walks into rehearsal after work, and rehearses as is. You can laugh, but I've seen exactly this type of thing happen at least operetas.
The sweat pants could be a commercial for Addidas. Did you notice the Evian bottles (in "Va Tacito") and the Shell logo in "Da tempeste" (assuming you've seen these), There could have been a subsidy given towards this production, which could explain the lawn funiture throughout and the garden hose in L'angue offesa mai riposa" (Home Depot).
Some singing performances makes me cry because it touches me, somehow - this is one of them. This music is magical and this has to be one the most beautiful songs ever written.
What wonderful acting! Caesar is so enthralled he is practically panting and ready to pass out ... looks like he is on the verge of having an orgasm in his pants!
buddmar 1 year ago
I wish you could seduce a man in real life this way.
orphyborphy 1 year ago 5
i'm not so sure you couldn't
andypandywright 1 year ago
All hail Sellars and company!
heyboy08 1 year ago
What a beautiful voice! So rich and full of color!
cevorion79 1 year ago
is that guy a countertenor???
eternaldarkfaery666 1 year ago
This is supposed to be a love song! Wham Bam Thankyou Mam!
flugelhorn1976 2 years ago
The harp obligato and the small concert just highlighted some magical singing. Thanks for posting this.
mspg2 2 years ago
Singing not bat, but what an awful looking production! Caesar would never wear sweat pants with a buttoned shirt and tie!
HConstantine 2 years ago 3
Out of context it seems weird, but it makes sense when you see the whole thing--all 4.5 hours of it! It's a wild and beautiful and provocative production, as strange as the opera itself. Also it's from the mid-1980s.
noelephantitis 2 years ago
Never mind. I just figured it out. I saw the ravishing Isabel Bayakdarian sing this several years ago. It gave my goose bumps.
Teofane 2 years ago
What is the name of Cleopatra's aria in this clip?
Teofane 2 years ago
Yeah thats my voice teacher!
msandor6489 3 years ago
The "enchanting music coming down from heaven" is by the greatest composer who ever walked among us; surely Handel's music is the closest we mortals can come to the divine.
billyguns2 3 years ago 2
You've never heard Mozart? How tragic!
HConstantine 2 years ago
I've heard the music of Mozart, J.S. Bach, Beethoven and a handful of other truly great and inspired composers; for me, and I repeat what I said earlier, the music of Handel is the closest we mortals can come to the divine. Beethoven himself considered Handel to be the greatest of all. Chacun a son gout!
billyguns2 2 years ago 2
I wish I could meet Handel...he´s such a good songwriter :)....
cellocarla 3 years ago
This was SO lovely! I never heard this opera before, and I am nearly moved to tears. Bravo
Susan Larson, you have done credit to the great queen and enchantress you portray!
buddmar 3 years ago
THAT WAS SO HOT!!!!!!!!!!!
crivz 3 years ago 4
Susan Larson has an amazing voice.
I am so moved by her singing this masterpiece. Thanks for posting and sharing it. :)
benjaminpark95 4 years ago 5
the soprano's ornamentation is splendid!
musicadei 4 years ago 2
Miss Larson sings Cleopatra with great majesty. Ridiculous production but the singing on the whole is distinguished.
crewmantle 4 years ago 12
@crewmantle I love the singers in this also, but I couldn't even watch the production. It was so ridiculous that it took away from the story. Caesar and Cleopatra were so wonderful, I wish they could have been in a more practical version....
xxWayoftheSunxx 1 year ago
Jeffrey Gall is a fantastic countertenor!!!!!
vutang7 4 years ago 5
Loved the orchestra of Egyptian handmaidens. Why is Caesar dressed like a chartered accountant? And who put him in sweat pants? It's impossible to believe that Cleopatra could love, or even pretend to love, a man in sweat pants. How could a costume designer subject an audience to such a nauseating sight?
apodyterion 4 years ago 2
I was thinking about the chartered accountant attire, and here is my own explanation; They filmed during a preliminary dress rehearsal whereas his Julius Caesar costume was not yet ready (so blame the costume crew). He moolights as a chartered accountant (or somethin'), then walks into rehearsal after work, and rehearses as is. You can laugh, but I've seen exactly this type of thing happen at least operetas.
contessabrilliante 4 years ago
You know something? How about those sunglasses? Did Cleopatra have some?
contessabrilliante 4 years ago
Oops! Actually, that's Nirena with the sunglasses. Sorry, got confused.
contessabrilliante 3 years ago
The sweat pants could be a commercial for Addidas. Did you notice the Evian bottles (in "Va Tacito") and the Shell logo in "Da tempeste" (assuming you've seen these), There could have been a subsidy given towards this production, which could explain the lawn funiture throughout and the garden hose in L'angue offesa mai riposa" (Home Depot).
contessabrilliante 3 years ago
Some singing performances makes me cry because it touches me, somehow - this is one of them. This music is magical and this has to be one the most beautiful songs ever written.
cellocarla 4 years ago 9
nevermind... i see you labeled him in the other videos. thanks so much for posting these!
zeuge77 4 years ago 3
who is cesare? he's amazing.
zeuge77 4 years ago 4
it was actually my first time watching this and i totally see how much fun you were having making peter sellars productions.
see you wednesday, susan!
shinebrightstar 5 years ago 4
magical! do you have also cesare's following aria?
rakewell2 5 years ago 3