Shepherd School Opera to present ‘Julius Caesar’

The Rice University Shepherd School of Music’s Opera Department and Chamber Orchestra will present Handel’s “Julius Caesar” March 6, 8 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Rice’s Wortham Opera Theatre in Alice Pratt Brown Hall.

The story of Julius Caesar’s political intrigue and struggle for control of the Egyptian throne will be conducted by Richard Bado, director of Rice’s Opera Studies Program, and staged by Tara Faircloth.

“Julius Caesar” embraces the romantic story of Caesar and Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. In one of Handel’s most beautiful arias, “V’adoro pupille,” Cleopatra attempts to seduce Caesar with her beauty and love.  

 “‘Julius Caesar,’ Handel’s most popular opera, gives our vocal and instrumental students the opportunity to shine in virtuosic numbers that run the gamut of human emotion,” Bado said. “The politics of the story are also very relevant to our current political climate.”

The opera will be presented in Italian with English surtitles. Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for students and senior citizens. For tickets, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.