'Julius Caesar' 10 / Händel 'Intanto, o Numi' 1 * VALERIE MASTERSON * ENO * [in English]

Tenth of *selected* excerpts from the English National Opera's production of Georg Friedrich Händel's 'Julius Caesar' ('Giulio Cesare in Egitto') [1984]. This version uses an excellent English translation by Brian Trowell of the libretto from the Italian original by Nicola Haym. Productions such as this one make a strong case for viable - nay, enjoyable and intelligible - English-language versions of non-English language operas.

Dame Janet Baker leads an excellent cast in performing this Baroque masterpiece, and holds forth marvellously, dispensing with aplomb ornamentations galore - besides creating a more three-dimensional Cesare.

In this excerpt, Cleopatra asks the gods to protect her beloved Caesar, or she feels she will die: 'Hear my prayer, O gods relenting' ('Intanto, oh Numi'). PART ONE.

Cleopatra . . . Valerie Masterson

Chorus & Orchestra of the English National Opera
Victor Morris, Chorus Master
Charles Mackerras, Conductor
John Copley, Producer (Director)

Recorded at Limehouse Studios in 1984
in London's Docklands

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Julius
• Caesar
• Giulio
• Cesare
• Hear
• my
• prayer
• gods
• relenting
• Janet
• Baker
• Handel
• ENO
• English
• National
• Opera
• Charles
• Mackerras
• John
• Copley