Giulio Cesare (Glyndebourne Festival)

David McVicar has blazed a spectacular trail in his fabulous staging of this Baroque opera series for the 2005 Glyndebourne Festival. His starting material is Handel's formidable, four-hour-long Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt), with libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Giacomo Grancesco Bussani's work of the same name. McVicar sets his production of Giulio Cesare early 20th century, during a period of British colonialism in Egypt. Highlights of his production include a brilliant performance by Danielle de Niese, one of opera's youngest stars, in the coveted role of Cleopatra. The opera is conducted by William Christie, one of the most celebrated conductors of Baroque and Early Music. This production won the 2006 South Bank Show Award for Opera.