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Handel - Giulio Cesare | 
 enlarge | Directors: Craig Smith, Peter Sellars
Actors: Lorraine Hunt-lieberson, Jeffrey Gall, Drew Minter, Susan Larson, James Maddalena
Studio: Decca
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy New: $23.97
You Save: $16.01 (40%)
New (8) Used (2) from $23.97
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 47115
Format: Classical, Color, Digital Sound, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: Italian (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Italian (Published), English (Published), French (Published), German (Published), Mandarin Chinese (Published), Spanish (Published)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 237
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 000725309
UPC: 044007140895
EAN: 0044007140895
ASIN: B000F7M7V8
Theatrical Release Date: 1992
Release Date: November 14, 2006
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Description
Peter Sellars's daring and novel adaptation of Handel's opera Giulio Cesare previously released on Laser Disc and VHS is now available on DVD! Though sung in the original Italian, Giulio Cesare is relocated in the unspecified future in the Middle East. Cesare is the unquestioned leader of a major world power who visits the Empire's number one global trouble spot. Ptolemy is a 14-year-old "self styled local potentate" and Cleopatra his beautiful and spoiled elder sister. Included in this DVD are the English subtitles supplied by director Peter Sellars himself, specifically created to match and enhance his personal vision of this opera. CAST LIST JEFFREY GALL Giulio Cesare SUSAN LARSON Cleopatra MARY WESTBROOK-GEHA Cornelia LORRAINE HUNT Sesto JAMES MADDALENA Achilla DREW MINTER Tolomeo CHERYL COBB Nirena HERMAN HILDEBRAND Curio SAchsische Staatskapelle Dresden Craig Smith, conductor Directed by Peter Sellars
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Some neglected points August 3, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sometimes people just forget to put a theatrical event in its proper perspective,a much more harmful mistake that any director or performer can do,even in case someone disagree the way an old fashioned work of art should established itself again to new audiences.Besides I just observed some neglected points in previous rewiews;first of all,musical performance standard changes drastically,especially on early music field.Some of these singers are nearly pioneers;I just can't remember any virtuoso american male alto before Jeffrey Gall pursuing an international career like he did.So Mr.Minter(just perfect acting and singing his portrayal of a 14 year-old bully and abusive Ptolomeo)was one of the earliest Indiana U. graduates like a countertenor,maybe the first one,I believe.Just listen to Lorraine Hunt performance here and her Irene on later "Theodora",a much more mature singing.I not even think that was a period orchestra since Cleopatra and Cesare arias seems to be in incredible high pitch,a hard task to the best of countertenors.So that,in my opinion,listener should evaluate this production in its proper and righteous perspective.I loved it like it is;clever and enthusiastic entertainment.At last,I doubt singers are wretched in their clothes;Cleopatra got that dazzling evening dress in order to seduce her Cesar,so,no big deal.
 A director's sick ego takes charge. July 23, 2007
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
I come to this review with mixed feelings: On the positive side, the production quality of this 2006 DVD from DECCA is superb, even though it's not in widescreen, which is a shame, and the performances from a talented cast are both compelling in the manner of their vocal delivery and flawless in their stage execution. Set in a contemporary and imaginary oil-rich Middle Eastern nation, Sellers has outfitted his cast in contemporary (and in some cases punk) styles, gave them colorful costumes and scenery, and employed expert camerawork throughout to give this "Giulio Cesare" an immediacy that is quite seductive to the eye. The accompaniment from the Saechsische Staatskapelle Dresden, under the direction of Craig Smith matches the performances and adds real depth to Handel's score which, as you know, can be a little dull at times, especially when we have little more than a Harpsichord for accompaniment in many of the recitatives. That's the positive side. There's a negative side, too. While Cesare is portrayed as "the unquestioned leader of a major world power," he speaks, in fact, from behind a podium emblazoned with the Seal of the President of the United States. Okay, a minor distraction. A bigger distraction than that is the utter contempt porcupined-top Mr. Sellars has for very talented singers, outfitting them in costumes that in one scene had Cleopatra, Susan Larson, and her assistant Nirena, sung by Cheryl Cobb, wearing blow-up pool balloons on their heads, and Cleopatra masturbating with the tail of her balloon between her legs and reaching orgasm while laid out on a lounge chair, all the while singing. It's one thing to cast singers in time periods different than the original authors, and with that, changing location and costumes. But where is the justification in making the singers look foolish? Mr. Sellars, like so many other contemporary directors, has let his reputation get the better of him, and uses his unique position to degrade and mock singers by casting them in outfits, here, that are contemptably demeaning and degrading. How Susan Larson can point to this display with pride is beyond me -- and I doubt she will. She may have smiled when she took her bows; but behind that smile there had to be tears. The porcupined one ought to be ashamed. This review appeared at OperaOnline.us
 Very good acting and singing April 4, 2007
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought this along with the Malgoire DVD of "Agrippina", which features some fine singing, but less than inspired stage directing and costumes.
The orchestra in this production of Giulio Cesare is my only cause for concern. The orchestra doesn't sound crisp, clear and clean to me. It even sounds a little stodgy in places. However, this is a minor quibble, because the singing and acting are first class.
I won't add a lot more to the positive reviews here, except to say that this is a very entertaining and interesting production. Sometimes, I love what Peter Sellars does (Theodora, for example) and, sometimes, I think he goes off the rails. Giulio Cesare is one of Sellars triumphs, in my opinion.
Jeffrey Gall, dressed as an American president, is an excellent Caesar and he was in fine voice when he made this recording. Lorraine Hunt makes an excellent Sextus, she left us far too early in life! Requiescat in pace. Drew Minter makes a very interesting and entertaining villain with his portrayal of Ptolemy. I have always liked his voice, too. I think Mr. Minter is involved in teaching these days? The entire cast is good and there are no weak links.
I am all for productions of Baroque opera which exhibit conjectural Baroque production standards, as in the Niquet DVD of Lully's Persee, for instance. However, I am open to a modern and imaginative approach to production if the results are as good as this.
Those who like this DVD should investigate the Christie/Sellars production of Handel's "Theodora", if they haven't already, and the more recent Christie/LAF DVD or Handel's "Hercules", which has become a real favourite of mine.
I only whish a better director had been brought into the Malgoire production of Handel's "Agrippina", which musically, is very good.
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! February 28, 2007
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I do not know what all you other reviewers find wrong with this production. I find that it is the best Giulio Cesare I have heard to date. I know that most of the problems with this production stem from Peter Sellers Controversial directing of the stage and modernization. I find it actually charming.
And now for the singers! Jeffery Gall (I'll admit) is not the world's most ideal Countertenor, but he pulls the role of Julius Caesar very well. His chemistry with Cleopatra is amazing. His best aria vocally is "al'lampo dell'armi". Susan Larson (Sellar's Fiordiligi in Cosi and Cherubino in Figaro) as Cleopatra left me absolutely speechless. There is absolutely no glitches in her performance. It would be hard to find just one aria that she excels in. She witty banter with Nirena is very funny and well-acted. Mary Westbrook-Geha as Cornelia is wonderful. Her acting and singing combine to make a very enjoyable performance. Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson (Elvira in Sellar's Don Giovanni) as Sesto was beyond amazing (as with Cornelia.) The act one duet ("Sonata a Lagrimar") almost made me faint. Drew Minter's Countertenor Tolomeo was good but not great. His singing was acceptable but his acting was a little stinted. James Maddalena (Sellar's Guglielmo in Cosi and The Count in Figaro) as Achillas was wonderful. No other words can describe how good it was. His chemistry with Cornelia was heated. Cheryl Cobb's Nirena was greatly acted and sung to the extreme. I was SO glad that she got her often-cut 2nd act aria ("Che perdu un Momento) and she sings it to a T. Hermann Hildebrand (Sellar's Antonio in Figaro) was good as the small role of Curio.
The Conductor Craig Smith sets very good tempos and never exceeds what Handel has written. His singers don't seem labored by him at all. The orchestra is a good solid Baroque orchestra. Peter Sellar's Directing is very interpolative. He uses a lot of "song-and-dance" numbers/ interpretative dance in many arias and duets
My verdict: If you have to have one Giulio Cesare- get this one.
 Ridiculous November 4, 2006
18 out of 28 found this review helpful
I generally like updated/modernized staging of old opera... as long as the original story and the music aren't compromised, that is. This Sellars production is just plain ridiculous. Cesare is something of a Nixon/PeeWee Hermann look-alike US President on a state visit to a resort hotel in Egypt... who finds it amusing lobbing pencil (nuke missile look-alikes) across the dining table at a punk rock Ptolemy. Guess they were having a heat wave on the set as everybody's sweating like condensation machines.
Cesare is horridly sung by the Counter-tenor Jeffrey Gall. Voice isn't anywhere nearly manly enough for this Roman dictator role, and coloratura is smudgy to the extreme. He comes off like a whiny gay man! Susan Larson's Cleopatra is more convincingly acted and does a bit better vocally. The voice is rich and creamy, but not quite at home with baroque music. The best singing come from the late Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson's Sesto and Mary Westbrook-Geha's Cornelia. Not enough to save the show for me, however.
Dunno why Craig Smith would put up with this wacky a production... but then these are the days of the regies... There are some great scenes, like the duet between Sesto and Cornelia that ends Act I, but these are hard to come by. The great muse scene in Act II appears to take place in Cesare's dream and is neither well visualized nor well sung. So the 3 stars are on the virtue of Haendel's beautiful score and the singing of Hunt-Lieberson and Westbrook-Geha.
There are some trailers of other Sellars productions on the 1st disc. Frankly, I bought the thing for Hunt-Lieberson's performance (and had seen a great clip of the Act I ending duet before hand)... not sure it was worth it.
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