Three Rayfield Allied artists star in a revival of Calixto Bieito's Giulio Cesare at Gran Teatre del Liceu, garnering praise for their portrayals of Giulio Cesare (Xavier Sabata), Sesto (Helen Charlston) and Nireno (Alberto Miguélez Rouco):
“Caesar is sung by Barcelona's Xavier Sabata, who has the stature to impress… He maintains a beautiful singing line”
“In the rest of the cast, of the same high level, we note in particular the mezzo Helen Charlston who plays a magnificently sung Sesto, between dejection and excitement…”
“Nireno, Cleopatra's confidant, is played with great energy by Alberto Miguélez Rouco.”
Jean-Marcel Humbert, Forum Opera
“Sabata, always a great artist, sensitive musician, and charismatic actor… portraying a complex, flesh-and-blood Cesare, always phrasing elegantly.”
“Dedicated both on stage and musically from the outset… with an undeniable personality, the feeling is that we are before a singer [Helen Charlston] with an important future”
“The cast was rounded out with skill by Alberto Miguélez Rouco in the role of Nireno"
Antoni Colomer, Platea Magazine
“Xavier Sabata recreated a skillful Giulio Cesare”
Maria Sánchez, Bachtrack
“Also standing out in her Barcelona debut was British mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston as a remarkable Sesto, with great projection and solid technique, with a voice that was somewhat strident at the beginning but which became more tempered throughout the extensive score.”
“The title role in Handel's Giulio Cesare was sung by Catalan countertenor Xavier Sabata, who gave one of his finest performances at the Liceu… Sabata did a superb job musically and as an actor, presenting a Cesare with dramatic flair…achieving great success especially in the most lyrical and emotional arias of the opera's main character.”
“And the countertenor Alberto Miguélez Rouco is more than adequate, playing the sensitive and musical Nireno.”
Fernando Sans Riviere, OperaActual
Performances run until 7 June 2025. Read more here.
