12 gen 1724 anni - Giulio Cesare Handel

Descrizione:

In Handel's interpretation of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra has just seen Caesar land in Egypt and has fallen in love with him. Since she does not want to reveal this to him, she disguises herself as Virtue personified, and has her handmaiden lead him to a grove where she tries to seduce him with song.

Though the elements of this scene are standard for the genre, it combines recitative sections and aria sections in new ways to enhance realism and the increase drama. By doing so, Handel created a way to intersperse plot development during an aria.

This piece is also notable because it combines both French and Italian influences. As French opera was, the feel was often dance-like; and, as in Itaian music, much of the music was in da capa form with concerto-like texture.