Before Handel's celebrated Giulio Cesare captivated audiences across Europe, Antonio Sartorio had already created his own magnificent setting of this timeless libretto. Now, 350 years after it's Venetian premiere, experience this extraordinary work as it was meant to be heard-performed on period instruments in it's first modern staging. Conducted by Attilio Cremonesi, this live recording from the Innsbrucker Festwochen reveals a composer of remarkable invention: fifty-five exquisite arias and duets that showcase the birth of the high Baroque vocal tradition. With a sumptuous continuo section and richly orchestrated accompaniment, Sartorio's Giulio Cesare in Egitto stands as a vital link between Renaissance vocal art and the operatic masterworks to come. A triumph of musical archaeology and performance excellence!