What's On
James Laing as Tolomeo, Andrew Squires as a Slave, and Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Giulio Cesare. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Gabriel Keogh and Andrew Squires as Slaves, Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra and James Laing as Tolomeo. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Kathryn Rudge as Sesto and Jem Dobbs as Pompeo. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
James Laing as Tolomeo, Kathryn Rudge as Sesto and Ann Taylor as Cornelia. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra and Pamela Helen Stephen as Giulio Cesare. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
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Synopsis
Erotic entanglements, intrigue, battles and murder: the passionate romance between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra has inspired the imagination of artists across the centuries. Experience all the colour, drama, passion and epic sweep of a Hollywood blockbuster in this timeless new production of Handel’s great masterpiece.
Egypt, ancient times. Cleopatra uses all her considerable wiles to persuade Caesar to join her in an alliance against her brutish brother Ptolemy, with whom she rules the country. Plots and counter-plots ensue before Caesar and Cleopatra emerge finally triumphant in both love and war.
Sung in Italian with English titles
Lasts approximately 3 hours
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Pricing
- Adult Ticket
- £8 - £65
Schedule
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What the critics say
Tynan’s Cleopatra...delivers some of the finest, most tasteful baroque singing you will hear anywhere.[...] Albery's version, compiled with conductor Robert Howarth, condenses Handel's three-act structure into two parts, so some losses are inevitable…The gain is a tighter plot with increased dramatic impact.
…it’s the quality of the singing which makes any opera worth seeing, and the singing in this production is consistently impressive.[...] The most impressive singing comes from Ann Taylor and Kathryn Rudge as Cornelia and Sesto, the murdered Pompeo’s widow and daughter; their duet in Act 1 is marvellous, the two voices beautifully matched.
Tim Albery’s new production for Opera North […] is blessed with some splendid singing and playing under the alert direction of Robert Howarth.[...] (Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra) is a star performance, not to be missed.
Two dozen stunning arias are by turns beguiling, tender, triumphant, menacing or simply storming celebrations of vocal virtuosity…wonderful numbers with admirable musicality and often heartbreaking poignancy.[...] Indeed, several will long live in my memory. They include Sarah Tynan’s outstandingly believable Cleopatra tremendously whispering her despairing music.
Opera North have assembled an accomplished cast of singers who not only sound wonderful, but inject power, humanity and sexuality into those ancient characters.[...] The standout performances of the night, however, were given by Kathryn Rudge as the murdered Pompeo’s grieving son Sesto and Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra.
Opera North’s presentation of Giulio Cesare was spell bounding from the start to the finish. Although an essentially complicated and involved plot, under the direction of Tim Albery, the thread remained consistent throughout and ensured polished performances from the artists.[...] The Orchestra of Opera North directed by Robert Howarth delivered a stunning performance as a support to the intense drama and passion delivered on stage.
Visually, it’s an often handsome show, enhanced by the variety and subtlety of Thomas C Hase’s lighting; and throughout, director Albery conveys the narrative with assurance.[...] Sarah Tynan’s highly physical Cleopatra offers genuine sparkle, her sequence of arias the highlights of the evening.
I don’t think I have seen a staging of this wonderful opera that has taken the characters and actions of Giulio Cesare as seriously as Albery’s does. [...] More than any other production I have seen, Albery’s maintains a perfect balance between the foreground and background of the story.
In a strong cast, Pamela Helen Stephen convinced as a rough, tough Caesar, her debut in this elusive role. [...] [Robert Howarth] instilled the Opera North orchestra with period instrument sensibility. [...] The anguished scenes involving Pompeo’s widow Cornelia (Ann Taylor) and her vengeful son Sesto (Kathryn Rudge) came across powerfully.
Sexual manipulator par excellence, [Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra] her poise dissolves when she meets the invading hero [Pamela Helen Stephen as Caesar]. The moment is beautifully drawn, both singers reeling. [...] Indeed, character development and storytelling are of a high quality. [...] Opera North’s orchestra has adapted well to baroque style, with particularly handsomely playing from the bassoon and oboes.
Giulio Cesare is laden with arias, many delivering some mesmeric moments. Sarah Tynan, who is faced with the challenge of tackling Cleopatra, is masterful throughout, her voice absolutely perfect. [...] The end result is a quality piece of opera boasting something very close to the aura of a silver screen blockbuster.
It is the excellence of James Laing’s counter-tenor, in the supposedly weak character of Ptolemy, that produces such a vibrant presence. [...] Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra dispatches vocal acrobatics with exemplary ability. [...] Neat and well-balanced playing from the orchestra of Opera North was conducted with suitable urgency by Robert Howarth.
Additional Information
Cast
- Giulio Cesare PAMELA HELEN STEPHEN
- Cleopatra SARAH TYNAN
- Cornelia ANN TAYLOR
- Sesto KATHRYN RUDGE
- Tolomeo JAMES LAING
- Nireno ANDREW RADLEY
- Achilla JONATHAN BEST (ex 16 March)
- Achilla JAMES OLDFIELD (16 March)
- Curio DEAN ROBINSON
Creative Team
- Conductor ROBERT HOWARTH
- Director TIM ALBERY
- Set & Costume Designer LESLIE TRAVERS
- Lighting Designer THOMAS HASE
The Music
Written at the height of his success, Handel’s sumptuous music is most admired for its brilliant characterisation and power, especially in his lavish music for the role of Cleopatra
Production Info
A highly talented cast is directed by Tim Albery, who has directed some of Opera North’s most successful productions over the past few years, including Fidelio and Cosi fan tutte, as well as a recent critically-acclaimed Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera House.
Did You Know?
Handel's father, a barber-surgeon, had no interest in music and wanted his son to become a lawyer. Dorothea, Handel's mother, encouraged his music so she smuggled a keyboard instrument called a clavichord into the attic, so Handel could practice late at night while his father was asleep.
Offers
Leeds Grand Theatre
Any Day
Income support, pension credit, JSA £10 stalls tickets
Family Ticket
50% off for up to 4 under 18s with each adult ticket booked
Groups of 10 or more
20% off plus one free seat for organiser
Monday to Friday
Under 26 and full time students £10 stalls tickets
Retired over 60 10% off
Leeds Card holders 10% off
On the Day
Day tickets – 30 tickets available on the day at 20% off from 9.30am. Best available seats.
Saturday Standby tickets – 25% off to concession holders from 9.30am. Best available seats, proof of status must be shown.
Maximum 2 tickets per person.
Available by phone 0844 848 2722 or in person only
BSL interpreted performances
Tickets £13.50 for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Seats for BSL users have been set aside in the most appropriate areas of the house, please ask the Box Office when you book.
For more information phone: 0113 22 33 500 or text: 07531 043 671.
Audio described performances
Tickets £13.50 for blind and visually impaired patrons, set aside in the most appropriate area.
Disabled people
25% off (essential carer free).
To book for a performance and touch tour please contact Opera North on: 0113 22 33 500.
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Family Ticket
With every adult ticket purchased up to four under 16s go half price
Groups of 10 or more
£4 off per ticket + 1 in 10 tickets free. No booking fee
Tuesday to Friday
Full time students £10 stalls tickets with relevant ID
Audio described and BSL interpreted performances
Tickets £15 for visual/hearing impaired patrons, set aside in the most appropriate area.
No booking fee will be charged
Not available online.
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Tuesday to Thursday
Under 18s 50% off (excludes Gallery)
Students, over 60 and Unwaged £2 off (excludes Gallery)
On the Day
Standby tickets from 9am
Concessionary patrons half price
Under 25 £5 (not applicable to gallery seats)
Not available online.
Audio described and BSL interpreted performances
50% off for visual/hearing impaired patrons (set aside in the most appropriate area).
No booking fee will be charged
Not available online.
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Adult Groups of 8+
20% off
Disabled People
50% off + one essential companion free
On the Day
Standby tickets from 6pm
Under 26 £5 any available Stalls seat
There are 24 tickets available to concession holders for £10 each (max two per person).
Discounts Tuesday - Friday
Under 18 & Registered Unwaged 50% off
Students 25% off
Retired over 60 10% off
School Groups 50% off in the balcony for 10+. One free teacher place per 20 pupils booked.
Audio described and BSL interpreted performances
50% off for visual/hearing impaired patrons (set aside in the most appropriate area)
No booking fee will be charged
Not available online.
All offers and discounts are subject to availability, do not apply for tickets for £5 and under, may be withdrawn and cannot be applied retrospectively. Only one discount per ticket. Proof of status must be shown.
Comment from Guest
Guest said ago
Why have they lopped an hour off it. I would prefer the full monty as given by Rene Jacobs, best version on CD
Comment from Sue Sawyer
Sue Sawyer said ago
The whole production was wonderful, fantastic set, lighting and, of course, Handel's wonderful music - a great pity the evening had to end. An amazing night.
Comment from Michael Rhatigan
Michael Rhatigan said ago
I too have seen the Glyndebourne production, riveting as that was, this production was truer to the music and plot, in fact one of the best productions by Opera North.
The cutting of an hour from the score was well handled, the producer dealt with the conventions of Opera Seria sensibly, concentrating on the singer and no silly stage business, a marked contrast to ENO whose Partenope was ruined by such excesses
Vocally it could not match Glyndebourne in every role, Pamela Stephens was good but did not dominate not helped by a very dull outfit, but overall it was well sung, I would pick out Kathryn Rudge (Sesto) as a star of the future
Only major disapointment was some lack rather lustre orchestral playing, horns had a poor night
Comment from John Crimp
John Crimp said ago
Having seen Glyndebourne's production several times (with Danielle de Niese as Cleopatra) this production was a complete contrast ~ much more serious, with no dancing from Cleopatra. I didn't particularly like the set, though the revolving centrepiece did give some variation.The singing was excellent, with a special mention needed for Ann Taylor as Cornelia and Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra. The orchestra were in good form; it was just a pity that they were too loud in the final chorus, making it almost impossible to hear the singers. All in all,it was an enjoyable performance. If you like Handel's music, get along to a performance soon.
Comment from Cynthia Bowring
Cynthia Bowring said ago
By far the best opera I've seen Opera North produce (I think I'm onto my 5th or 6th now) and I can't recommend it enough. The set was mesmerising and the singing was unrivalled. The orchestra was note perfect.Ptolomy was wonderfully sleazy and Cleopatra the ultimate Venus. Congratulations to all involved.
Comment from Andy Gilliland
Andy Gilliland said ago
An enchanting evening, a wonderful experience.
Comment from Annbrien
Annbrien said ago
This is Opera North's best for some time - certainly the best we've seen since the brilliant Peter Grimes a few seasons ago.
Handel's elegant and at times searingly haunting music, the beautiful if intriguing staging, the singing and acting skills of Sarah Tynan in particular (a cross between sex kitten and state president), the amusing narcissism of Tolomeo - all make this the best night I've had at the opera for a long time north of Watford or this side of the Pond. If you thought Handel was dull and just Messiah, this will make you think again. I'd recommend it to anyone who has a soul, a heart and a spare £20-30.