Opera Omaha & The English Concert: Giulio Cesare at Orpheum Theatre

If you are looking for an unparalleled musical experience that resonates in your soul long after the last note has died down, the Opera Omaha Company premiere of George Frideric Handel’s “Giulio Cesare” is it.

The opportunity to experience a Baroque opera performed alongside an orchestra utilizing period instruments does not come often, hence all the more reason to grab this unique opportunity with both hands. The world-renowned Handelians, The English Concert, with each musician adept at the specific style and instrument and directed by Harry Bicket from behind the harpsichord, is set to have only three performances in North America, using local choirs and soloists in each of the venues. The English Concert is incredibly tight as an ensemble, exemplary in grace and enthusiasm, delivering impeccable performances every single time.

“Giulio Cesare," a ‘dramma per musica’ in three acts composed by George Frideric Handel with a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, is one of the most often performed Baroque operas to date. The premiere, performed at the King’s Theatre in the Haymarket, London, in 1724, was well-received and often revived by Handel himself, with massive success.

The story follows the journey of the infamous Roman general and dictator, Julius Caesar, as he pursues his enemy, Pompeo, who fled to Egypt. Handel’s “Giulio Cesare” is packed with compelling characters and sensational music and can hold its own with all manners of staging, making a semi-staged approach ideal as it showcases the music to the maximum, making the work as a whole rings true, and the universal and timeless themes of power, love, and politics hit home.

The stellar cast comprises Christophe Dumaux as Cesare, Louise Alder as Cleopatra, Paula Murrihy as Sesto, Beth Taylor as Cornelia, John Holiday as Tolomeo, Morgan Pearse as Achilla, Meili Li as Nireno, and Thomas Chenhall as Curio.

The Orpheum Theatre is one of Omaha’s oldest performance venues, continuously delivering a tantalizing buffet of top-notch performances. The 2,600-seat venue boasts spectacular French Renaissance architecture, pin-drop acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage technologies. With seating spread across five floors – the orchestral floor, grand tier, balcony, gallery, and special boxes – every seat is a fantastic seat, suited to every taste and budget.

Get your tickets now, mark your calendar, and get ready to be elevated with live music the way it is meant to be performed!