The life and loves of Cleopatra, legendary Queen of Egypt, have inspired numerous works for the lyric stage, including, notably, Handel’s “ Giulio Cesare” (1724), about her early affair with Julius Caesar, and Barber’s “Antony and Cleopatra” (1966), about her relationship with Marc Antony near the end of her life. Composer Gerard Chiusano and librettist Gene Tyburn have put together a demo CD-ROM of piano and synthesizer-accompanied excerpts from Act One of their own ambitious new “ Antony and Cleopatra,” which seems, on the basis of these extracts, to be a full blown Romantic grand opera, complete with ballet. The music director is Christopher Story VI.

The score aptly reflects the stately grandeur and passion of the tale the opera tells. A recurring musical figure reminds of the powerful series of descending chords that ends Act Two of Verdi’s “Otello,” a reminder that this is the story of immortal figures writ large. Tyburn’s text employs and expands upon the language of Shakespeare’s play after Plutarch, “Antony and Cleopatra,” on which it is based.

Among the highlights is a compelling pair of lush duets for the protagonists, impressively sung by tenor Gabriel Pezos and soprano Kerry Walsh. The first is a love duet. In the second, Antony bids farewell to Cleopatra as he departs for Rome. Enobarbus, Antony’s friend, played by baritone Ron Banks, has a lyrical aria in which he decries Antony’s metamorphosis from commanding general to fawning lover. Antony and Enobarbus sing a rousing martial duet as the former anticipates leaving his love and returning to military duty.

A merry scene finds Cleopatra and her attendants, Iras (Diane Stenett) and Charmian (Gail Lucas), having their fortunes told by a soothsayer (Skip Taylor). In contrast, Cleopatra gives voice to a sorrowful, then soaring solo as she despairs on learning that Antony has married Octavia, Octavius Caesar’s sister, and then plots to win him back. The act is capped by a hearty ceremonial salute to Caesar and ill-starred newlyweds Antony and Octavia.