April 2023 Performance 2023年4月演出

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Based on historical events during the Roman civil war in Egypt, the opera tells the story of how Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) tries to bring peace to the turbulent relationship between the Egyptian and Roman empires, but is prevented from doing so by Tolomeo, king of Egypt. On the day after Giulio Cesare's victory over his rival Pompey, Cesare receives a visit from Cornelia, who begs him to spare her husband Pompey's life. Cesare's hopes of embracing his enemy are dashed when Tolomeo has Pompey's head delivered to Cesare as a gift. Sesto, Cornelia's son, swears to avenge his dead father. Disguised as Lydia, Tolomeo's sister Cleopatra attempts to seduce Cesare to win his support to become queen in place of the increasingly tyrannical Tolomeo. Her army is defeated by Tolomeo's men, but she is rescued by Cesare and falls into his arms. Tolomeo prepares to lead his troops but refuses Achilla (the loyal commander of his armies) the promised reward for defeating Cesare; Cornelia is to be his own prize. With so many people opposed to Tolomeo, a furious Achilla decides to switch his allegiance to Cleopatra. Meanwhile, Sesto has killed his enemy Tolomeo and avenged his father. The battle has been won. Sesto and Cornelia pledge their loyalty to Cesare and Cleopatra. Cesare crowns Cleopatra as sole Queen of Egypt. The lovers sing and all welcome the arrival of peace.

《朱利奧．凱撒》故事來自真實歷史事件，講述羅馬帝國時期在埃及的內戰，凱撒想化解埃及與羅馬帝國凶險緊張的關係，但埃及國王托洛梅奧卻處處阻撓。凱撒打敗了對手龐貝，龐貝妻子科妮莉亞拜訪凱撒，哀求他饒龐貝一命。就在凱撒願意化敵為友的一刻，托洛梅奧把龐貝的頭顱送給凱撒作為禮物。科妮莉亞的兒子塞斯托發誓要替亡父報仇。托洛梅奧妹妹克蕾奧帕特拉假扮成妮迪亞，想引誘凱撒以騙取他的支持。托洛梅奧自從殺了龐貝後變得愈來愈暴戾，克蕾奧帕特拉決定要成為女王，由她來統治埃及。克蕾奧帕特拉的軍隊起初不敵托洛梅奧的士兵，凱撒拯救了她，克蕾奧帕特拉投入凱撒懷抱。阿喀琉斯是托洛梅奧的忠心將領，托洛梅奧答應了他，若打敗凱撒，就將科妮莉亞賞賜予他，但托洛梅奧卻食言，他想獨佔科妮莉亞，軍隊中人亦不齒托洛梅奧的行為。眼見托洛梅奧眾叛親離，阿喀琉斯決定轉投克蕾奧帕特拉陣營。塞斯托帶領軍隊成功殺敵，為父報仇。塞斯托和科妮莉亞表示會效忠凱撒和克蕾奧帕特拉。凱撒封克蕾奧帕特拉為埃及唯一的女王，二人高歌，慶祝和平降臨。