Handel: Giulio Cesare

Even by the standards of Glyndebourne – an opera festival with a long pedigree in 18th-century opera – David McVicar's production of Handel's Giulio Cesare is something special. Reinventing baroque conventions in endlessly playful new ways, it's as entertaining as it is spectacular; a richly enjoyable meditation on war, empire and (of course) love. This performance from the inaugural run in 2005 catches it at its freshest, with Sarah Connolly in the title role and Danielle de Niese giving a dazzling, career-defining performance as Cleopatra. A landmark in modern Handel staging, all underpinned by spirited period-instrument playing under the great William Christie.