Damiano Michieletto is set to make his debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées with a new production of Händel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto.”

The opera will star Gaëlle Arquez in the title role, Sabine Devieilhe as Cleopatra, Franco Fagioli playing Sesto, and Carlo Vistoli playing Tolomeo. Philippe Jaroussky will conduct Händel’s work, leading the baroque ensemble Artaserse.

In a statement, Michieletto said, “It feels like the drama takes place around Giulio Cesare. Behind his back – continues the director – Tolomeo aims to seize power and dives into a spiral of cynicism; Cleopatra builds plots and seductions; Sesto tries to avenge his father and goes through a process of generational development. Among them, I see Cesare as an almost passive spectator, as if all that he was supposed to achieve (conquests, glory, victories) were already accomplished stages. Händel describes an old man, one who will actually die, back in Rome, a few years after the events narrated in the opera. He will go through a conspiracy and a betrayal, just as Pompeo did at the beginning of the opera. Essentially, Händel’s Giulio Cesare is a drama about destiny symbolized by a trio of Parcaewho wrap the protagonist with their red threads, determining the time of life. The opera is overshadowed by premonitions of a destiny and a death that the frivolous actions of the Emperor seem to try to ward off.”

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées will showcase “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” from May 14 to 22, 2022.