Dramatic opening: Handel's Giulio Cesare captivates Salzburg!

Dramatic opening: Handel's Giulio Cesare captivates Salzburg!

Salzburg, Österreich - On July 24, 2025, the Salzburg Festival Arena sees the first scenic performance of Handel's masterpiece "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" (1724). This year's festival officially opens this year's festival, under the direction of Dmitri Tcherniakov and with the musical direction of Emmanuelle Haïm.

The festival begin with a dramatic turn, because the opera opens with a shocking trigger warning: the separated head of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus adorns the stage. This picture calls on the viewers to reflect on the brutal political intrigues that ultimately led to the destruction of Rome. In dramaturgy, the rivalry between Caesar and Pompeius, described by Lukan in his "Pharsalia", becomes clear where the acknowledgment of superiority is excluded. Cleopatra also plays a central role by using gender as a strategic tool in the dominant power competition.

artistic cooperation and innovation

The cooperation between Tcherniakov and Haïm is a premiere at the Salzburg Festival and already delivers the first exciting results. This joint vision is also visible in her next project, the Gluck project "Iphigénie en Aulide-Iphigénie en Tauride" in Aix-en-Provence 2024.

The role of women in this opera is particularly interesting - a topic that takes a special place in the historiography of the opera. Women were often shown in stereotypical roles, but Handel's manuscript shows that Cleopatra and Caesar are equivalent to their competition. This equality reflects social changes and the struggle for gender justice, which is also becoming increasingly important in opera history.

The influence of female figures in the opera

The representation of female protagonists was a changeable topic in the course of opera history. From the 17th century, in which women were mostly perceived as a loving women or innocent victims, to strong, independent figures, such as in Verdi's "La Traviata". Composers such as Ethel Smyth and Kaija Saariaho have contributed to creating complex women's figures that fight clichés.

Within this framework, Cleopatra plays a revolutionary role in "Giulio Cesare". While she operates between men in the power game, she uses her sexuality and intelligence as a weapon. This makes them one of the most exciting female figures in opera history. The stereotypes and the social norms that restricted women were increasingly questioned, which leads to a more diverse representation in modern operas.

The Festival of Salzburg shows with the opening of "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" that traditional opera repertoire can reinterpret and stimulate thought about power, gender roles and the complexity of human relationships. And so not only a once famous work is presented, but also a piece that illustrates the relevance and development of female roles in the opera in an impressive way.

For further information on this production and the background of the opera of Handel, please visit the pages of Salzburger Festival and