This is an exceptional opportunity to hear one of George Frideric Handel’s greatest masterpieces performed by world-class artists on the stage of the Warsaw Philharmonic. The libretto of the opera Giulio Cesare is undoubtedly one of the most exciting among all the composer’s stage works. The author of the text, Nicola Francesco Haym – an avid numismatist and expert in ancient history – drew on events from the time of Julius Caesar, creatively revising them to achieve the desired dramatic effects.

At the root of the conflict, so necessary in Baroque opera, lies a macabre gesture. The severed head of Gnaeus Pompeius – once Caesar’s ally, later his mortal enemy – becomes an ill-advised gift sent to the dictator of Rome by the young king of Egypt, Ptolemy. Presented before the murdered man’s wife and son, it initiates a series of events full of political intrigue, but not without romantic strands. The story gains particular intensity thanks to its vivid characters (among them the legendary Cleopatra) and excellent dramatic structure.

This fascinating drama would not have gained such expressive power if it had not been set to the masterful music of one of the greatest composers of the era. Handel, like few others, was able to convey the subtlest nuances of emotion – both in daring and pathos-filled arias accompanied by solo instruments, and in poignant laments and intimate internal monologues.

Bartłomiej Gembicki