Handel: Giulio Cesare [Live, Box set]

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Marc Minkowski (Conductor), Les Musiciens du Louvre (Orchestra), Marijana Mijanovic (Performer), Magdalena Kozena (Performer), Anne Sofie von Otter (Performer), Charlotte Hellekant (Performer), Bejun Mehta (Performer), Alan Ewing (Performer), Pascal Bertin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Marijana Mijanovic, Magdalena Kozena, Anne Sofie von Otter, Charlotte Hellekant, Bejun Mehta, et al.
• Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre
• Conductor: Marc Minkowski
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Live, Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Archiv Produktion
• ASIN: B000094HLD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This new recording of Handel's great Giulio Cesare was taped live in Vienna and has the exciting aura of a live performance--and also some of the problems. Minkowski leads an exciting reading, and he has a Caeser who can keep up with his aggressive tempi: mezzo Marijana Mijanovic sings fluently, accurately, and with stunning tone and great involvement, and the fact that she sounds as if she might be a countertenor only helps the situation. Magdalena Kozena's Cleopatra is wonderful as well--insinuating, ruthless, sad, loving by turns, and (although we're accustomed to the role being sung by a higher-voiced woman) Kozena is properly feminine and alluring. (Still, no-one compares with Beverly Sills on RCA.) Charlotte Hellekant's Cornelia is moving and well sung but could use a somewhat darker tone; Bejun Mehta's countertenor rings forth with style as Tolomeo. A problem is Anne Sofie von Otter's Sesto--she sounds tired--and occasionally, the orchestra is less than accurate. René Jacobs' recording on Harmonia Mundi remains the first choice, but this is a very close second. Handel lovers will need both. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minkowski's (overdue) return to Handel, September 4, 2003

By 

Dr. Peter J. Glidden "KingFox" (Gli Angeli, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Handel: Giulio Cesare (Audio CD)

I'll admit that I am a big fan of Marc Minkowski and that I've followed him from his first Handel recordings (Amadigi and Teseo) to his Offenbach and Strauss. However, while his "modern" forays have been quite nice (especially the Orphée aux Enfers), I'm glad that he has finally remembered what he does best: the Baroque, and, namely, Handel. His Dixit Dominus has converted several people I know to "classical" music and his Ariodante, with the thrilling casting of Anne Sophie Von Otter and Ewa Podles, will be hailed as immortal (see my review). This new installment goes straight for the top: Giulio Cesare. The orchestra - particularly the solo instruments of cor di caccia, Hector McDonald, and violin, Florian Deuter, are superb - is amazing, the tempi are just right, quick and languid by turns. Handel should be fast - when he shouldn't be slow, it's all about giving the music it's due. The vocal soloists are also generally great, with some greater than others. The tricky title role sung by Marijan Mijanovic is well chosen. It took me awhile to recall who she reminds me of and I think I've got it: Carolyn Watkinson, but truly with her mezzo power and passion in a contralto part (Watkison's contralto singing, such as the role of Galatea, is quite different). I'm amazed to hear myself give her such high praise as I was rather unmoved by her contribution to the Arcadian duets (Emmanuel Haďm), but maybe it's just a matter of learning to love something new (and something old). Magdalena Kozena sings Cleopatra, which is also amazing since she debuted as an alto/mezzo and has sung tons of that material. Her Cleopatra is solid, thrilling, yet I still long for the coloratura soprano in this part - which we don't have a recording of! Where are Nathalie Dessay, Sandrine Piau, or Sylvia McNair? The mother-son duo, Cleopatra and Sesto, with their fabulously erotic music, which, sung by two women as Handel wrote the parts, moves from incestuous to lesbian in the blink of an ear! - is Charlotte Hellenkant and the sublime Anne-Sophie Von Otter. Hellenkant has the amorous maternal role down pat while Von Otter, though perhaps a bit less in this role, is, as the liner notes claim, one of the best singers of her generation. I'm glad also to see former boy soprano current countertenor king Bejun Mehta in a major role, Tolomeo. This is actually a role that has burned more than one male alto as it requires big guns both in terms of breath and pure vocal ability, which Mehta has in spades. Achilla is sung by Alan Ewing (Polyphemus on Christie's Acis and Galatea) and is sufficiently bullying and blustering for the part. For another interpretation, check out the god-like James Magdalena in Peter Sellars video production of this opera, the one time this role can bring tears to the eye.
A must for all serious Handel/Minkowski fans.

15 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXTRAORDINARIO: Primera opcion, January 12, 2004

By 

Annio mozartiano ;) "_annio_" (Espańa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Giulio Cesare (Audio CD)

Minkowski se corona con este registro, consiguiendo la version mas redonda hasta la fecha de 'Giulio Cesare' (muy superior a la tan laureada version de Rene Jacobs). La direccion de Minkowski es mas chispeante e imaginativa, y sus Mousiciens du Louvre suenan a las mil maravillas. El cast vocal es de gran altura: La casi desconocida Marijana Millanovic interpreta un Cesare sobresaliente, seguro en toda la tesitura, y de acentos contratenoriles. Magdalena Kozena consigue la mejor version de Cleopatra hasta la fecha: fantastica. Charlotte Hellekart, es una Cornelia muy interesante, aunque no llegue a superar la creacion absoluta que de este personaje hizo Bernarda Fink con Jacobs. Anne Sofie Von Otter deja constancia de uno de los mejores Sestos en disco, aportando su buen gusto de siempre al papel. Bejun Metha está en estado de gracia como Ptolomeo, demostrando que es un gran cantante. Discreto Alan Ewig, un Achilla aquejado de vibratto, y cumplidores el resto de secundarios en sus cortas intervenciones. El sonido es excelente, lo que convierte a esta version en una primera opcion para esta obra, por encima incluso de la version de Jacobs en Harmonia Mundi.

5.0 out of 5 stars Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · M, October 9, 2010

By 

Bjorn Viberg (European Union) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Giulio Cesare (Audio CD)

Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski is a recording under the direction of Marc Minkowski who leads the Les Musiciens du Louvre who play on authentic instruments on this Deutsche Grammophon GmbH recording 2003. Being a recording by DG the sound is amazing and one verily feels as one is listening to it live. The booklet is close to 200 pages. It contains many nice photographs from the time of the recording. A very well-written essay by Donald Burrows entitled "Handel's 'Giulio Cesare in Egito'" and a short synopsis. The one gets short biographies of the performers. Ann Sophie Von Otter is amazing in the role of Sesto. Highly recommended. 5/5.