Show Synopsis:
Giulio Cesare and his troops celebrate defeating Pompeo?s armies, but are interrupted by Pompeo?s second wife Cornelia begging for Pompeo?s life. Achilles brings her Pompeo?s head in a basket, a token of support from Tolomeo, the ruler of Egypt, and she faints. Her son Sesto wants to have revenge on Egypt; meanwhile, Tolomeo?s sister Cleopatra wants to seduce Cesare and Tolomeo wants to kill him when he appears to be empathizing with Pompeo?s wife. Cesare begins to fall in love with Cleopatra, and she believes that Sesto, Cornelia, and Cesare all want to kill Tolomeo. When they all go to the Egyptian palace to see Tolomeo, Tolomeo begins to fall in love with Cornelia even though he is betrothed to Achilla, then arrests Sesto for trying to challenge him to the death. Sesto stops Cornelia?s attempted suicide and Nireno tells her she is being sent to Tolomeo?s harem, but he will help Sesto sneak in as well to kill Tolomeo. At the harem, Achilla lies and tells Sesto that Cesare has committed suicide to escape the oncoming rioters trying to kill him. Tolomeo forces Cornelia to turn down Achilla?s hand in marriage and Achilla defects to Cleopatra?s side. Cleopatra mourns the death of Cesare, who actually survived his jump from a window. Sesto finds Achilla on the battlefield and Achilla hands over his armies to Sesto. Cesare arrives and promises to save both Cleopatra and Cornelia in exchange for control of the armies, and he is reunited with Cleopatra. Sesto kills for Tolomeo as he tries to rap Cornelia, and Cesare victoriously proclaims Cleopatra Queen of Egypt before declaring his love for her.

Character:
Cleopatra, a power-hungry young woman in love with Cesare; clever.

Song Context:
Cleopatra believes Cesare is dead and the battle is lost, and she laments losing the man she loves and the love of her brother, whom she has been conspiring against.

Fun Facts:
1. This opera was based on the historical events surrounding Julius Caesar and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. 
2. This opera was composed for Handels' Royal Academy of Music. 
3. The role of Cleopatra was originally sugn by the famous Baroque soprano Francesca Cuzzoni, a member of the Royal Academy whom Handel wrote many roles for, including this one.