Opera by G.F. Handel, premiered at the King’s Theatre in London, 1724
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Production by R.B. Schlather
With early music band Ruckus

April 19, 23 (matinee), 26, 27 (matinee), 30 (matinee), May 2, 2025

Opera director and Hudson resident R.B. Schlather reunites with early music band Ruckus in April 2025 for six performances of Handel’s baroque blockbuster GIULIO CESARE. Repeating the successful alchemy of RODELINDA (2023), Schlather brings together area residents, rising young stars, and some of the finest baroque interpreters today to share his passion for Handel in the intimacy of New York State’s oldest surviving theater.

From Director, R.B. Schlather:
“These characters may have ancient names, but they’re completely modern. 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.”