Hudson Hall in New York is set to present Händel’s “Giulio Cesare” in April 2025.

 The opera will be directed by opera director and Hudson resident R.B. Schlather and will reunite him with the early music band Ruckus.

The production will star American countertenor Randall Scotting as Cesare and rising star Song Hee Lee as Cleopatra. They will be joined by Meridian Prall as Cornelia, Chuanyuan Liu as Tolomeo, Rolfe Dauz as Curio, Matthew Deming as Nireno, Raha Mirzadegan as Sesto, and Douglas Williams as Achilla.

The creative team will include Joseph Cermatori as dramaturg, costume design by Terese Wadden and lighting by Masha Tsimring, scenic associate Erica Zhang, hair and makeup by Matia Emsellem, supertitles by Steven Jude Tietjen, assistant director Michael Hoffmann. There will also be improv-dancing by Davon.

“These characters may have ancient names, but they’re completely modern,” said Schlather in an official press release. “‘Giulio Cesare’ is a wild ride—packed with intrigue, danger, seduction, sharp wit, and gut-wrenching drama. Think of it as Handel’s version of a pulp fiction thriller, inspired by Julius Caesar’s high-stakes escapades in Egypt and his scandalous love affair with the young, cunning Cleopatra. Back in Handel’s day, performers rocked contemporary fashion, played against minimal backdrops, and lit up the stage with raw charisma. People came for the thrill—the singers, the spectacle, the physicality, and the sheer energy of the music. That’s the vibe for this Handel series in Hudson: bold, visceral, and unapologetically thrilling.”

“Giulio Cesare” will be performed April 19 through May 2, 2025.