# Giulio Cesare in Egitto album review – Sabine Devieilhe’s exquisite Cleopatra could make stones weep

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/giulio-cesare-in-egitto-album-review-sabine-devieilhes-exquisite-cleopatra-could-make-stones-weep/
- Published: 2026-11-12T14:00:43+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T14:24:22+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/nov/12/handel-giulio-cesare-in-egitto-album-review-il-pomo-d-oro-francesco-corti-jakub-jozef-orlinski-sabine-devieilhe
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Corti’s recording captures the energy of live performances.
- Orliński’s Cesare combines authority with vocal agility.
- Devieilhe’s expressive Cleopatra is the set’s highlight.

## Summary

Il Pomo d’Oro’s new period instrument recording of Handel’s *Giulio Cesare in Egitto* draws on the ensemble’s experience performing the opera on a European tour. Francesco Corti leads from the keyboard, keeping the drama lively, while the recording’s expressive risks and decorated arias give it a sense of spontaneity.

Jakub Józef Orliński brings authority and agility to the title role, though his tuning occasionally falters. The review singles out Sabine Devieilhe’s Cleopatra as the standout, praising the delicacy of “V’adoro, pupille” and the emotional force of “Piangerò la sorte mia”; Beth Taylor, Rebecca Leggett, Yuriy Mynenko and Alex Rosen also contribute strongly. The opera has at least 15 recordings in the current catalogue.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.