from Act III, Scene 3 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: Cleopatra's room, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Just before Cleopatra leaves to go to prison, Caesar breaks into her apartments and liberates her from the clutches of Cleopatra's wicked brother, Tolomeo. In jubilation, she anticipates the victory that is sure to follow.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: Cleopatra's room, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Cleopatra has heard that her brother Tolomeo has killed Caesar's rival, Pompey, in order to influence Caesar. Cleopatra also wants to influence Caesar, but she decides to use her beauty to seduce him instead.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: woods near Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Her brother Tolomeo has ordered Cleopatra to prison for scheming with the now-apparently-drowned Caesar. Saddened by the turn of events, Cleopatra contemplates what fate has given her and how, when she is dead, she could come back and haunt her brother.

from Act II, Scene 3 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: Palace of the Goddess of Virtue, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Caesar has run outside to fight against Tolomeo's soldiers who are trying to take his life. Inside, Cleopatra finds that she now loves Caesar instead of just pretending to love him so that she would be favored above Tolomeo. She still hopes that Caesar will be able to gain revenge on Tolomeo.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: Cleopatra's room, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: After joining with Cornelia and Sesto in a plot to kill her brother Tolomeo, Cleopatra rejoices in the idea of the fall of Tolomeo and, presumably, her rise to greater power.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: Palace of the Goddess of Virtue, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Cleopatra sings a beautiful love song designed to seduce Caesar from afar.

from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Cornelia, widow of Pompey, mother of Sesto

Voice Part: contralto|mezzo-soprano       Fach: contralto

Setting: the bridge over the Nile entering Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Cornelia's husband, Pompey, has been killed by the Egyptians to show their loyalty to Caesar. After unsuccessfully attempting suicide, she sings of her unhappiness and her loneliness.

from Act II, Scene 3 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Giulio Cesare, emporer of Rome

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|dramatic baritone

Setting: Palace of the Goddess of Virtue, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Cleopatra knows of an attempt on Caesar's life that is about to be made by Tolomeo's soldiers. However, when she tries to warn him to flee, he at first repudiates the idea vigorously. He then runs out to take part in the fighting.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Giulio Cesare, emporer of Rome

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|dramatic baritone

Setting: the harbour, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: In an attempt against his life, Caesar was thought to have drowned in the harbour. In actuality, he survived and tells of his escape. He then prays for relief to his loneliness.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Giulio Cesare, emporer of Rome

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|dramatic baritone

Setting: Cleopatra's room, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Caesar sees Cleopatra for the first time and is entranced by her beauty.

from Act I, Scene 3 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Giulio Cesare, emporer of Rome

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto|dramatic baritone

Setting: palace of Tolomeo, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Tolomeo and Caesar meet in a banquet. When Tolomeo subtly threatens him, Caesar responds, saying that he will be on guard against any violence Tolomeo has planned.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompey

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: Cleopatra's room, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Cleopatra is in disguise and using the name Lidia. She overhears Cornelia and Sesto planning to avenge Pompey's murder by Cleopatra's brother Tolomeo. Cleopatra offers her help and Sesto rejoices, believing that they will soon have their revenge.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompey

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: garden of the King's harem, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Sesto likens the revenge he plans on taking against Tolomeo to a striking serpent.

from Act II, Scene 4 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompey

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: garden of the King's harem, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Sesto runs into the harem and attempts to stab Tolomeo but is prevented by Achilla. He then attempts to kill himself but is prevented by his mother Cornelia who gives him strength. He then declares his refound determination to have revenge upon Tolomeo.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompey

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: the harbour, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Sesto and Caesar have now joined forces against their mutual enemy Tolomeo. They hatch a plan in which Sesto will command some of the troops entering Tolomeo's palace through an underground route. Sesto rejoices, believing that at last the murder of his father Pompey will be revenged.

from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel

Libretto: Nicola Haym

Role: Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompey

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: the bridge over the Nile entering Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.

Synopsis: Sesto's father, Pompey, has been killed by the Egyptians to show their loyalty to Caesar. Upset, he vows that he will have revenge upon those that committed the crime.