Giulio Cesare in Egitto

Giulio Cesare has defeated his enemy Pompeo and chased him all the way to Egypt. Against Caesare's will, however, Pompeo was then executed by the Egyptian king Tolomeo. The wife and son of the slain man swear to avenge him. Cleopatra, meanwhile, wants the Egyptian throne all to herself. In order to get it, she must get rid of her brother Tolomeo and win Cesare's support. She seduces him, he falls for her - and makes Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.

Ancient ruler or modern president, Giulio Cesare embodies the ideal ruler: confident, thoughtful and educated. However, the casting of women or castrati in male roles, which was common in the Baroque era, already blurs the image of the male ruler. Is ruling masculine? And seduction feminine? How does the distribution of power change if it is a female emperor to whom everyone must submit - and it is a man who seduces her?