E' sicuramente la migliore versione vocale del GIULIO CESARE: sono perplesso solo sulla scenografia... ma ce ne sono davvero di orrende, molto molto ma molto peggio di questa.
Comunque Tolomeo e Giulio Cesare sono favolosi, sia vocalemnte sia come recitazione in scena.
Peter Sellars trashes Handel. Awful singing from Gall...his intonation wavers about every other measure. Both he and Minter look like escapees from prison camp, skinny and cachectic. Goofy, ugly production, only saving grace is the late, great Lorraine Hunt.
Well, not every man is a hunk, some are naturally skinny. Besides, Ptolemy was still a child when this was supposed to have happened, so skinny isn't inappropriate.
But I agree with your other points. Gall lacks every concept of articulation, both musical and linguistic. "Va tashito"? "Tashiator"? Aren't opera singers supposed to take Italian lessons? Why is every note he sings tenuto? This sounds like someone deliberately making fun of opera.
Point well taken, skinny is OK, especially for Tolomeo, who was a child at the time, as you say. Having heard Jeffrey Gall sing so much better (live performances, in "Messiah" and "Israel in Egypt") I remain mystified by his tone-deaf rendition of Caesar here. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the tasteless Sellars direction and production design. BTW, I am a countertenor myself, and have no prejudice against using this vocal style in Handel opera.
@Timrath You r right. but anyway..im italian and it doesnt bother me, sounds a bit exotic! besides, though i share ur very same impression of 'making fun', i think that -red with an ironic key- the all thing is amusing and pleasant. as to gall's singing, this is not is best for sure.
You're certainly right. It's a good production. The orchestra is excellent (especially the horn), and the acting is also great. I love how they show Cesare as an attention-seeking politician (which I'm sure the real Caesar was, too), and Tolomeo as a silly teenager (which is also historically accurate).
Yes, listen to the music...but close your eyes during this performance, IMO! I like your tag
alcina69. I am a fellow Handel fan...I love "Alcina", and it is still awaiting a first-rate recording. I had high hopes for the William Christie rendition several years ago, but it was spoiled by being a live recording, and by questionable performance practices by a certain vocalist.
I loved the singing. The staging , I agrre withdennisneo, is brillant. I know it turns this opera in kind of a opera buffa but I think it´s great how they use the play to make a satir of imperialism.
drew minter the first cd of a contratenor that i took in my live it was the "fantastico drew minter. I was in love with him his voce and his eyes! thanks for this
Drew is totally cool here.
Sadiesexy 1 month ago
Singing 10
Production(Scenery etc) 4
Directing(Strange hand movements etc) 0
Am I right in thinking this a production bu the god awful Peter Sellars?
MrSwifts31 3 months ago
laughable adaptation as are most operas these days. Too bad. Why do people buy into this?
fishcop444 5 months ago
what in THEE hell?
jpryan31 6 months ago
Does that Arabian guy has anything to do with the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Pre114 8 months ago
listen to Drew Minters performance of this aria, it is heavenly
Renaissance3950 1 year ago
I love the Glyndebourne performance with Sarah Connolly - including the "business" that is always so prevalent these days.
Altivelzian 2 years ago
There no comparency to of singing of Andreas Scholl.
Go switch to Andreas Scholl - you will be surprised.
amonasro100 2 years ago 3
@amonasro100
You're right, there is no comparency to Scholl's singing, because he IS NOT an operatic singer, though he tries continously to be one.
The staging is vivid, arrogant and very amusant. One doesn't like it; is his choice. The world goes on.
chitarel 1 year ago
Lawrence of Arabia on holdays in Morocco. What a beautiful natural horn obligato.
mspg2 2 years ago
@mspg2 yes Andreas Scholl is exceptional
Renaissance3950 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Make me sick it..poor Handel!!!
JudaMaccabeus 2 years ago
Caesar looks like he's having a frank discussion with his son, who is thinking "whatever!"
BayAreaBiker2001 3 years ago 2
@BayAreaBiker2001 Tell me, I dont speak italian. What are they really "talking" (singing) about?
HerrWarja 1 year ago
Ma per favore povero Handel, ma come si muovono!!
eddi1178 3 years ago
He is the first contratenor I have heard and seen, and I am very impressed by his performance.
studiapolichrom 3 years ago
I'm a bit perplexed about the lyrics; who's the cunning hunter, Cesare or Tolomeo? I first thought it was Cesare himself, but
E chi è mal far disposto,
non brama che si veda
l'inganno del suo cor
is a strange way of talking about oneself. Could someone explain?
Anyway. Did Evian pay them advertising fees?
ohheheinbon 3 years ago
I assume the cunning hunter is Tolomeo, because Cesare is supposed to be warning Tolomeo that he will be ready for any attacks/deceit he has planned.
Sonjadee 3 years ago
I always take it that it is Caesar who is hunting the 'sport' carefully and silently.
alcina69 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Not bad, but he sings like an woman. He isn't a countertenor! He is an sopranist!!!
jaxxon94 3 years ago
This is a little unfair.
alcina69 3 years ago
E' sicuramente la migliore versione vocale del GIULIO CESARE: sono perplesso solo sulla scenografia... ma ce ne sono davvero di orrende, molto molto ma molto peggio di questa.
Comunque Tolomeo e Giulio Cesare sono favolosi, sia vocalemnte sia come recitazione in scena.
Athys700 3 years ago
I find the setting to be more accessibe to younger audiences. Peter Sellars knew how to adapt 18th-19th century operas to make them appear recent.
BayAreaBiker2001 3 years ago
Good comment. For opera to survive I believe it should be constantly updated.
alcina69 3 years ago
I am # 7/8 s of 10.000. A bit weak though.
pc0sence 4 years ago
good singing, but horrible escenery
alfonsomoraza 4 years ago 8
Peter Sellars trashes Handel. Awful singing from Gall...his intonation wavers about every other measure. Both he and Minter look like escapees from prison camp, skinny and cachectic. Goofy, ugly production, only saving grace is the late, great Lorraine Hunt.
gshmd 4 years ago
Well, not every man is a hunk, some are naturally skinny. Besides, Ptolemy was still a child when this was supposed to have happened, so skinny isn't inappropriate.
But I agree with your other points. Gall lacks every concept of articulation, both musical and linguistic. "Va tashito"? "Tashiator"? Aren't opera singers supposed to take Italian lessons? Why is every note he sings tenuto? This sounds like someone deliberately making fun of opera.
Timrath 3 years ago
Point well taken, skinny is OK, especially for Tolomeo, who was a child at the time, as you say. Having heard Jeffrey Gall sing so much better (live performances, in "Messiah" and "Israel in Egypt") I remain mystified by his tone-deaf rendition of Caesar here. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the tasteless Sellars direction and production design. BTW, I am a countertenor myself, and have no prejudice against using this vocal style in Handel opera.
gshmd 3 years ago
You know your history. He was indeed a child.
alcina69 3 years ago
@Timrath You r right. but anyway..im italian and it doesnt bother me, sounds a bit exotic! besides, though i share ur very same impression of 'making fun', i think that -red with an ironic key- the all thing is amusing and pleasant. as to gall's singing, this is not is best for sure.
pianofolle 7 months ago
@pianofolle you wrote: "amusing and pleasant"
You're certainly right. It's a good production. The orchestra is excellent (especially the horn), and the acting is also great. I love how they show Cesare as an attention-seeking politician (which I'm sure the real Caesar was, too), and Tolomeo as a silly teenager (which is also historically accurate).
Timrath 7 months ago
Does it really matter how skinny that performers are? i don't think so. Listen to the music; what beauty.
alcina69 3 years ago
Yes, listen to the music...but close your eyes during this performance, IMO! I like your tag
alcina69. I am a fellow Handel fan...I love "Alcina", and it is still awaiting a first-rate recording. I had high hopes for the William Christie rendition several years ago, but it was spoiled by being a live recording, and by questionable performance practices by a certain vocalist.
gshmd 3 years ago
I love this production
iheartverdi 4 years ago 10
What orchestra, produced where?
hookana70 4 years ago
la trompa genial!
djmon84 4 years ago
Very Nice Singing
cheruske 4 years ago
I am prefer Scholl's cesare. This too "falcetto"
Nick02091984 4 years ago
Who are the singers?
alexmacias 4 years ago
Drew Minter and Jeffrey Gall
redpriest26 4 years ago 2
Quite superb singing.
D9l3tt 4 years ago 2
This is hilarious - Tolo-"mayo" (indicated by hand gesture by Cesare on bread, hehe). I liked the staging in this one, and the singing!
redpriest26 4 years ago
I loved the singing. The staging , I agrre withdennisneo, is brillant. I know it turns this opera in kind of a opera buffa but I think it´s great how they use the play to make a satir of imperialism.
enricodicapri 4 years ago 2
The singing's okay. The staging is atrocious!
globalmuse 4 years ago 2
drew minter the first cd of a contratenor that i took in my live it was the "fantastico drew minter. I was in love with him his voce and his eyes! thanks for this
fairyboy05 4 years ago
Briliant staging and performance. The horn hints that they are hunting each other...
sruli2 5 years ago
*is not SO sure about the brilliance of this staging*
PsychoLemur42 4 years ago
I'm sure about this piece. However other arias of this production suffer from silly staging. E.g., look for Da Tempeste.
sruli2 4 years ago
Yeah. Some parts are very good, but others I couldn't even watch. Da Tempeste was painful, and Sesto's "Cara Speme" was just silly.
PsychoLemur42 4 years ago
excellent!
dennisneo 5 years ago