Reincarnation of Baroque ecstasy: Giulio Cesare at the Elbphilharmonie

Sandrine Piau and Jakub Józef Orliński

Beth Taylor and Rebecca Leggett

Francesco Corti directs Il Pomo d'Oro

By Mengguang Huang, 13 February 2026

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“Jakub Józef Orliński’s Cesare... less a figure of dusty history than a living modern star”

Reviewed at Elbphilharmonie: Grand Hall, Hamburg on 12 February 2026

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

Francesco Corti, Conductor, Harpsichord

Il Pomo d'Oro

Jakub Józef Orliński, Giulio Cesare

Sandrine Piau, Cleopatra

Rebecca Leggett, Sesto

Beth Taylor, Cornelia

Yuriy Mynenko, Tolomeo

Marco Saccardin, Curio

Alex Rosen, Achilla

Rémy Brès-Feuillet, Nireno

The early flowering of opera: a fragrant L’Orfeo at Schwetzingen

Mengguang Huang, 3rd May

Markus Bothe’s Botticelli-inspired production fuses tableau vivant aesthetics with Jörg Halubek’s surgical musical precision, offering a peerless, vivid tribute to the fragrant dawn of opera.

****1

Deep into the American psyche: Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men

Hilary Stroh, 1st May

Carlisle Floyd's operatic setting of John Steinbeck’s classic novella is given a new production in the composer's centenary year at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

****1

Boston Doodle Dandy: Boston Lyric Opera presents La Fille du régiment

Kevin Wells, 1st May

Very few singers can hold an audience in the palm of their hand the way Brenda Rae as Marie does in this rollicking frolic.

****1

Two funerals and a bedding at the Linbury Theatre

Eleanor Knight, 1st May

Tales of love and loss as operas by Elena Langer, Charlotte Bray and Elizabeth Maconchy form a varied triple bill in this showcase for The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists.

****1

The triumph of virtue: Rossini’s Cenerentola in Brisbane

Sandra Bowdler, 29th April

Margarita Gritskova leads a fine ensemble performance of Rossini’s most under-appreciated opera by Opera Queensland.

****1

Grigolo shines in a mixed new Roméo et Juliette at the Opera di Roma

Pia Maltri, 28th April

With its 1940s setting, Luca Del Fusco’s direction alienates in a new production of Gounod's Shakespeare-inspired opera.

***11

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Mengguang Huang

Mengguang Huang is a Hamburg-based project manager in the construction industry. With a strong passion for classical music, he was introduced to the world of early music during his time in the UK, where he developed a particular fondness for renaissance and Baroque vocal music. Driven by his love for this genre, he now makes it a priority to attend major Baroque opera productions and concerts across Western Europe whenever possible, continuing to deepen his appreciation for this rich musical tradition.