Afternoon on 3 - Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Acts 1 and 2

Handel Operas 2009 As part of BBC Radio 3's complete cycle of Handel's operas, Jonathan Swain presents the first two acts of the composer's most popular - and arguably best - opera, Giulio Cesare in Egitto. It features possibly one of the most seductive heroines in all opera: Cleopatra, a role famous for two great arias, Se pieta and Piangero. Handel: Giulio Cesare in egitto (Acts 1 and 2) Giulio Cesare ...... Marijana Mijanovic (mezzo-soprano) Cleopatra ...... Magdalena Kozena (mezzo-soprano) Cornelia, widow of Caesar's enemy Pompey ...... Charlotte Hellekant (mezzo-soprano) Sesto, her son ...... Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Tolomeo, Cleopatra's brother ...... Bejun Mehta (countertenor) Achilla, Tolomeao's sidekick ...... Alan Ewing (bass) Nireno, Cleopatra's sidekick ...... Pascal Bertin (countertenor) Curio, Caesar's sidekick ...... Jean-Michel Ankaoua (bass) Les Musiciens du Louvre Grenoble Marc Minkowski (conductor).