The first and, to-date the only, baroque opera produced at the Bolshoi (1979) was George Frideric Handel’s Giulio Cesare, and now, making amends for the ‘baroque’ hiatus in its repertoire, the Bolshoi turns again to Handel’s music – for just the second time in its history. The choice of Rodelinda is symbolical: for in the 20th century it was this opera that marked Handel’s return to popularity in theatre.