Handel: Giulio Cesare

Disc 1
1	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
2	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
3	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
5	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
6	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
7	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
8	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
9	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
11	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
12	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
13	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
14	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
15	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
16	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
17	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
18	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
19	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
20	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
21	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
22	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
23	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
24	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
25	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
26	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
27	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
28	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
Disc 2
1	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
2	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
3	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
5	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
6	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
7	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
8	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
9	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
10	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
11	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
12	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
13	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
14	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
15	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
16	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
17	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
18	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
20	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
21	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
22	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
23	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
24	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
25	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
26	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
27	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
28	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
29	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
30	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
31	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
Disc 3
2	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
3	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
4	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
5	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
6	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
7	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
8	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
9	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
10	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
11	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
13	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
14	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
15	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
16	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
17	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
18	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
19	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
20	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
21	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
22	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
24	Giulio Cesare in Egitto,
Handel: Giulio Cesare
1.	Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17 3:38:39
	Composed by George Frideric Handel
	Performed by Pascal Bertin, Florian Deuter, Alan Ewing, Charlotte Hellekant, Magdalena Kozená, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Hector McDonald, Bejun Mehta, Anne Sofie von Otter, Jean-Michel Ankaoua and Marijana Mijanovic
	Conducted by Marc Minkowski

Barnes & Noble

One of Handel's most popular operas, Giulio Cesare has never suffered from a lack of fine recordings. For starters, there's Julius Rudel's historic version with Beverly Sills -- which triggered the Handel opera revival -- and René Jacobs's account, starring a lustrous Jennifer Larmore, stands out among more up-to-date performances. Yet this first-rate effort from Marc Minkowski and company, a three-CD set of the complete opera, recorded live in Vienna in November 2002, is not just another Caesar. Minkowski makes some unorthodox but inspired casting choices, most surprisingly by giving the title role to a relative newcomer, Marijana Mijanovic. It's always a question whether Caesar should be sung by a countertenor or a mezzo-soprano, and in Mijanovic we have the best of both. The deep masculine qualities of her unusual voice combine with a vocal suppleness to bring a unique expressiveness to this role. For star power, there's the always-magnificent mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter in the role of Sesto, and with Magdalena Kozená, Minkowski adds another of today's leading mezzos to the billing. But therein lies the other big surprise: Kozená sings Cleopatra, which is typically a soprano role. Of course, Kozená's gorgeous, warm voice has always defied easy categorization, but still, she can offer none of the dazzling coloratura that others indulge in, resulting in a portrayal that accentuates the role's essentially poignant nature. As usual, Minkowski's conducting is responsive and lively, and the playing of Les Musiciens du Louvre is typically assured. Minkowski's casting gamble clearly pays off, and the result is a Caesar that conquers all rivals. EJ Johnson

Gramophone

Marc Minkowski provides a strong challenge [to other versions] with a performance that is strongly cast and which certainly gains in drama and sense of continuity from being recorded live.... It's certainly a version of this fine opera that any Handelian will want to hear. Stanley Sadie

Chicago Tribune

The sheer vivacity, rhythmic springiness and alert response to [Minkowski’s] incisive direction is a joy in itself...and the singing here may be the finest this opera has ever received on disc.... Highly recommended to Handelians everywhere. John von Rhein