(Photo: Mike Hoban)
By Ian Irvine [New Statesman, 19 December 2005]
Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne (and at the Proms)
A star was born. David McVicar’s enormously enjoyable production of Handel’s showpiece (set in an imperial imagerie d’Epinal version of Egypt) was distinguished by the British debut of the beautiful young Australian soprano Danielle de Niese. Not only did her voice easily surpass the rigorous requirements of the role of Cleopatra, but she gave, in Kenneth Tynan’s term, a high-definition performance – sexy, witty, compelling – at a level rarely seen on an opera stage. The outstanding cast also featured Sarah Connolly as Caesar and a harrowing Angelika Kirchschlager as Sesto. Praise God, it’s being revived next summer, when a DVD will also appear.