12 Nov 2026, 07:42 PM

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Orliński/Devieilhe/Il Pomo d’Oro/Corti(Erato)Francesco Corti keeps the drama on the boil in this period instrument recording of Handel’s opera, with herculean feats of vocal dexterity by Jakub Józef Orliński in the title role – but it’s Sabine Devieilhe’s breathtaking queen who steals the showGiulio Cesare is Handel’s most popular opera with at least 15 versions in the current catalogue, several of them historical. This new recording by period instrument band Il Pomo d’Oro comes off the back of a European tour, thus benefiting from the experience of live performances. A lived-in quality is palpable here, from the frisson of emotional risk-taking to imaginatively decorated da capo sections.Leading from the keyboard, Francesco Corti keeps the drama on the boil, especially in recitatives where his resonant harpsichord sits comfortably in the mix. Timings are similar to Harry Bicket’s recent recording on Linn, but Corti invariably feels faster. Continue reading...

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