![]() (Aria: Non disperar, chi sà?) Achilla brings the news to Tolomeo that Cesare was furious over the murder of Pompeo. Cleopatra decides to use her charm to seduce Cesare. Sesto, son of Cornelia and Pompeo, swears to take revenge for his father's death. Cornelia rejects the offer in grief, saying that another death would not relieve her pain. Cesare's assistant, Curio, offers to avenge Cornelia, hoping that she will fall for him and marry him. Cornelia faints, and Cesare is furious about Tolomeo's cruelty. It is a token of support from Tolomeo, the co-ruler of Egypt (together with Cleopatra, his sister). Achilla, the leader of the Egyptian army, presents Cesare with a casket containing Pompeo's head. Cesare agrees, but on the condition that Pompeo must see him in person. Pompeo's second wife, Cornelia, begs for mercy for her husband's life. Giulio Cesare and his victorious troops arrive on the banks of the River Nile after defeating Pompeo's forces. Cuzzoni, in contrast, wears a contemporary gown such as might have been suitable for presentation at court, with a dwarf to serve as her train-bearer.Īfter the overture, the entire cast, except Giulio Cesare, gathers on stage for the opening chorus. Such costumes were worn by the leading men in Handel operas whether the setting was ancient Rome or Gothic Europe. The set is architectural and generic, not a specific locale, and the costumes for the men are also generic, with some inspiration from ancient Roman military attire breastplates, armoured skirts and leg armour, combined with plumes on the headdresses. The elongated bodies of the castrati tower over Cuzzoni, who was described by Horace Walpole as "short and squat". The illustration is probably of a scene from Handel's Flavio, presented by the Royal Academy of Music in 1723, although it has sometimes been identified as a scene from Giulio Cesare. Although a caricature, the contemporary engraving of Senesino on the left, Francesca Cuzzoni and castrato Gaetano Berenstadt on the right, provides valuable information about the visual aspect of the original performances of Handel operas. ![]()
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