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Caesar and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: comic overkill stunts Handel at Grange Festival

Tim Mead (Giulio Cesare) and Hugh Cutting (Tolomeo)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Sarah Brady (Cleopatra) and Owen Willetts (Nireno)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Owen Willetts (Nireo), Tim Mead (Giulio Cesare) and Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Jess Dandy (Cornelia) and Hugh Cutting (Tolomeo)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Zheng Jiang (Sesto) and Sarah Brady (Cleopatra)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Giulio Cesare, Act 3 finale
© Richard Hubert Smith
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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
***11
The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining
****1
L’incoronazione di Poppea vividly brought to life at the Grange
***11
Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades
*****
A stylish Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival
****1
Tension accumulates in Handel’s Tamerlano at The Grange Festival
***11
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