The Lowry, Salford – 13 November 2019
Reviewed by Niamh Holleran
4****
Having never watched an opera before, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Giulio Cesare. I was pleasantly surprised there were subtitles to accompany the Italian singing, although not constantly which was nice as it allowed you to just focus on the extraordinary singing.
On the night I attended, the role of Cornelia was sung by Amy J Payne, who did a marvellous job. From the outset, with the death of her husband, her pain was awfully obvious in her songs and by the end of the first half, I wanted to cry for her.
The villainous role of Tolomeo was made darker by the significant pointed finger attachments he wore when exercising his power over the defeated Romans. I’m quite sure that by the time Act Two began, whenever he entered the stage, I got goosebumps due to my dislike of him.
The set was particularly powerful too, beginning with what looked like a simple black mound that the characters looked down from, until slowly revolving to reveal a luxuriously gold tomb, representing the riches of the Eqyptian rulers. It made a perfect backdrop for the entrance of Cleopatra, the real star of the opera.
From her initial entrance when she revealed her plans, to the ending when she is united with her love, Cesare and given the throne of Egypt, she held the audience captive. She was not a typical Cleopatra with heavy eyeliner and heavy handed drama but a lighter, more charming version, who handled a sword against Tolomeo beautifully.