Dutch National Opera Academy presents the Dutch Première of

Carl Heinrich Graun

Cleopatra e Cesare

Dramma per musica in 3 atti

Libretto by Giovanni Gualberto Bottarelli after Corneille's "La Mort de Poppée"

A collaboration with the Early Music Departments of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and The Royal Conservatoire The Hague.

Creative Team

Jonathan Peter Kenny - conductor

James Conway - director

Luca Stappers - set & costume designer

Tim van ‘t Hof - lighting designer

Marisa Grande - embodiment

Frederick the Great of Prussia dreamt of creating a court that was the cultural centre of Europe while he grew up at the arid, militaristic court of his father. With Carl Heinrich Graun’s magnificent Cleopatra e Cesare, composed for the opening of his new court opera house in 1742, he realised his dream.

Graun’s clashing characters are all flawed, and all full-blooded. Surprisingly, Frederick seems to be seen in the youthful, proud Tolomeo of Egypt, rather than in his mighty Roman foe who came, saw, and almost conquered. On the other hand are two richly characterised women: the Roman Cornelia, maddened by grief, and the sensual Cleopatra, who is surprised by love.

In this opera, each scene is a play with very high stakes, and each aria reveals new splendours. Rarely performed, richly endowed - it is one that every opera lover will want to experience.

01. 03. & 5 December 2021 @ 13:00

Cast December 1 & 5

Cleopatra - Kris Ng

Giulio Cesare - Maria Koshiishi

Cornelia - Maria Koroleva

Tolomeo - Gabe Clarke

Arsace - Lucie van Ree

Lentulo - Tinka Pypker

Achilla - Einar Gudmundsson

Sesto/Cnéo Pompeo - Noelle Drost

Cast December 3

Cleopatra - Kris Ng

Giulio Cesare - Maria Koshiishi

Cornelia - Idil Kutay

Tolomeo - Theodor Uggla

Arsace - Marion Dumeige

Lentulo - Tinka Pypker

Achilla - Michael Karski

Sesto/Cnéo Pompeo - Sharon Tadmor

Tickets €1/ €1 (student rate) - excluding service costs

(Student tickets: the student card will be checked at the entrance.)

Kees van Baarenzaal, The Royal Conservatoire The Hague

In the light of the changes, we have decided to make a number of tickets available without charge. Out of courtesy to those who have already purchased tickets, we would like to offer a refund should you so wish. Alternatively, the price you have paid will be used to help defray the costs incurred in mounting the production.

For more information please visit www.opera-academy.nl

Due to corona measures we will check the QR code/Coronapas at entrance.