'Julius Caesar' 1 / Händel * JANET BAKER * ENO * [in English]

[meyerhoff31]

This was made for TV viewing, but I saw it on stage, it is stylized in a way that Handel would have recognised, but never the less it came over as a strong piece of theatre and ofcourse Dame Janet and Valerie Masterson were superb

[mariandelochs]

Oh !!! You got to see it LIVE !!!

Yes, I do agree Dame Janet and Valerie are excellent as Caesar and Cleopatra, respectively - a team that remains hard to beat even today. I certainly like Masterson's coquettish yet dignified Cleopatra more than those in current stagings!

[meyerhoff31]

@mariandelochs . I agree, Cleopatra is often made a bit too overtly sexy these days and although she was a determined young woman I feel she should retain some dignity, and I think V.M. gets it about right.

[mariandelochs]

@meyerhoff31

After all, Cleopatra was still a queen! (And not a harlot!)

[meyerhoff31]

Absolutely!, a little naive, due to her youth but she knew her destiny and fought for it. Falling in love with Cesare threw her off course a bit, but she rallied and found her place.