Comic overkill stunts Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Grange Festival

Tim Mead (Giulio Cesare) and Hugh Cutting (Tolomeo)

Sarah Brady (Cleopatra) and Owen Willetts (Nireno)

Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)

Owen Willetts (Nireo), Tim Mead (Giulio Cesare) and Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)

Jess Dandy (Cornelia) and Hugh Cutting (Tolomeo)

Zheng Jiang (Sesto) and Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)

Giulio Cesare, Act 3 finale

By Mark Pullinger, 08 June 2026

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“countering the overkill of humour, the vocal performances were largely excellent”

Reviewed at The Grange, Alresford on 7 June 2026

Handel, Giulio Cesare in Egitto, (Julius Caesar in Egypt) HWV 17

The Grange Festival

Christian Curnyn, Conductor

David Alden, Director

Jon Morrell, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Early Opera Company

Tim Mead, Giulio Cesare

Sarah Brady, Cleopatra

Zheng Jiang, Sesto

Jess Dandy, Cornelia

Hugh Cutting, Tolomeo

James Atkinson, Achilla

Owen Willetts, Nireno

Tristan Hambleton, Curio

Tim Claydon, Choreography

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

David Karlin, 20th June

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining

David Karlin, 23rd June

Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.

****1

L’incoronazione di Poppea vividly brought to life at the Grange

David Truslove, 7th June

Terrific music making with a light directorial touch brings mixed results to Monteverdi's 1643 masterpiece.

***11

Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades

David Karlin, 23rd June

In a setting that might be The Grange itself, a production which steadily tightens its grip until a blistering finish.

*****

A stylish Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 16th June

Entertainment ideal for country house opera-goers, enhanced by some fine singing and excellent playing from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Tension accumulates in Handel’s Tamerlano at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 10th June

Some exceptional singing intermittently enlivens Daniel Slater's production which, dramatically and emotionally, takes time to ignite.

***11

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

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