‘Giulio Cesare’ comes to New Theatre Royal Portsmouth over two nights

English Touring Opera (ETO) are presenting a new production of German baroque composer Handel’s renowned masterpiece, Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), at the New Theatre Royal on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th October — the first time the piece will have been performed in full in Portsmouth.

Four hours of music will be split into two performances, each telling a distinct story over two consecutive nights.

The Olivier award-winning company are among the leading producers of Handel operas in the UK, having produced 15 Handel operas in the past 15 years of James Conway’s leadership as ETO General Director. The company’s focus on Handel has played a big part in re-establishing Handel’s prominence in the operatic repertoire.

Giulio Cesare follows the story of Roman general Julius Caesar and his uneasy romance with Cleopatra.

James Conway has been General Director for ETO since 2004. He’s directed ETO productions of operas by Monteverdi, Handel, Mozart, Donizetti, Janáček, Puccini, Dubussy, Ullmann, Britten, and Tippett, as well as a world premiere by Alexander Goehr.

ETO won an Olivier Award in 2014 for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, and are heralded as the most prolific touring opera company in the UK, traveling annually to around 70 venues.

Part One

The Death of Pompey: we see the aftermath of the execution of Caesar’s rival, Pompey, as Caesar, Cleopatra, and her brother, Tolomeo, all fight to the death for the throne.

Part 2

Cleopatra’s Needle shows Caesar and Cleopatra at their lowest ebb: will they regain the upper hand over Tolomeo? Can their relationship survive the incoming war?

If you book both parts, you’ll get 25% off the overall price.

Both parts are sung in Italian, with English subtitles.