Handel - Julius Caesar / Treigle · Sills · Forrester · Wolff · NYCO · Rudel [BOX SET]

Maureen Forrester (Artist), Eugenia Earle (Artist), George Frideric Handel (Composer), Julius Rudel (Conductor), Beverly Sills (Performer), Norman Treigle (Performer), Spiro Malas (Performer), Michael Devlin (Performer), Beverly Wolff (Performer), New York City Opera Chorus and Orchestra (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Beverly Sills, Norman Treigle, Spiro Malas, Michael Devlin, Beverly Wolff, et al.
• Conductor: Julius Rudel
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: 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: RCA
• ASIN: B000003EOP
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,991 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Overture

2. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Viva, viva il nostro Alcide!

3. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Presti omai l'Egizia terra

4. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Curio, Cesare venna e vide e vinse

5. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Sua reggia Tolomeo

6. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Giulio, che miri?

7. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Empio, dirò, tu sei

8. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Già torna in sè

9. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Priva son d'ogni conforto

10. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act I, Scene 1: Vani sono i lamenti

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 1: E seguisti, o Niren

2. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 1: Taci! - che fia?

3. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 1: V'adoro, pupille

4. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 1: Non ha in cielo

5. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 1: Più amabile beltà

6. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 2: Deh, piangete, o mesti lumi

7. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 2: Se a me non sei crudele

8. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 2: Sì spietata

9. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 2: Madre! Ferma!

10. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Act II, Scene 2: Cessa omai di sospirare!

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A document of a superstar in a signature role!, January 5, 2000

By	K. King "Stitchinguy" (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Beverly Sills, in her autobiography "Bubbles", acknowledges that the role of Cleopatra was the turning point of her career, after years of "utility singing" at City Opera. This recording documents the wildly successful 1966 production that turned Sills into an "overnight sensation." Though Handel purists today may find fault with its lack of completeness or style, the recording remains important not only for Sills' radiant Cleopatra, but also for capturing the late Norman Treigle's characterization in the title role. Treigle was particularly riveting in the theater and puzzlingly under-recorded. Other roles in the recording are filled lavishly with Beverly Wolff, Spiro Malas, and the great contralto Maureen Forrester. But again, this recording is Sills' show all the way. Her rendition of "V'adoro, pupille" is one of the great moments in opera--any opera--with golden trills in abundance and a finely spun, luminous legato that halts your own breath. No wonder crowds were on their feet at City Opera when this production was first mounted, cheering loudly and long--and deservedly so. It's a disc no collection should be without, and at a friendly price, to boot!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Untraditional but Wonderful Nevertheless!, July 2, 2005

By	Steven Muni "Foothills Bear" (Sutter Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although this opera was originally written for a castrati in the title role, and is usually sung today by a counter-tenor or a mezzo-soprano, American bass-baritone Norman Treigle takes the role and runs with it in this 1966 (recorded in 1967) N.Y. City Opera production. This is Handel's most performed opera today, and while critics may debate whether or not it is his "best", it is full of glorious music.
And it is superbly sung. The supporting case is uniformly excellent. Mezzo-soprano Beverly Wolff is an ardent and fiercly vengeful Sextus, Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester has a wonderful richnes of tone as Cornelia, Pompey's widow, bass Spiro Malas is appropriately malevolent as Cleopatra's brother Ptolemy, and baritone Dominic Cossa brings tremendous musicality to the small role of Achillas, Ptolemy's military advisor.
And then there is the young Beverly Sills in the role of Cleopatra, the second of three roles that made her a superstar. (She had come to the opera-going public's attention in The Ballad of Baby Doe, but this is the role that put her into the top ranks, followed by Massenet's Manon which enshrined her up with Sutherland and Caballe.) She and Treigle simply tear up the stage, and their duets are just remarkable, making you think that if Handel had heard this version he would have rewritten the role of Caesar for a bass-baritone!
National Public Radio's "Curious Listener's Guide to Opera" lists it as the best available recording of the opera, and while purists might disagree, it's certainly my favorite. Well worth buying.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a star is born !!!, June 19, 2001

By	Michel (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews

This set of Giulio Cesare by Handel is obviously an adaptation
of the original opera - according to purists this version com-
mits just about every musical capital sins possible but with
such gorgeous music and stupendous singing all I can say is
WHO CARES !!! Beverly Sills is quite simply spectacular as
Cleopatra - the role that made her a star - and I love having
a bass-baritone in the role of Caesar it makes the character
far more believable especially in the hands of the imposing
Norman Treigle. The rest of the cast is excellent with special
mention to Maureen Forrester and Beverly Wolff. Julius Rudel's
conducting is elegant and lively and the sound good and atmos-
pheric. Highly recommended.