On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the sixth edition of the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival came to an end. Eleven festival days full of baroque splendor once again attracted several thousand visitors from all over the world to Bayreuth. With the rediscovery of Francesco Cavalli’s Pompeo Magno, the festival, under the artistic direction of Max Emanuel Cencic, presented a production acclaimed equally by the public and critics. Cavalli specialist Leonardo García Alarcón, together with his Cappella Mediterranea as resident orchestra, held the musical direction. Among the vocal cast shone Max Emanuel Cencic (Pompeo Magno), Mariana Flores (Issicratea), Nicolò Balducci (Sesto), Sophie Junker (Giulia), Valer Sabadus (Scipione Servilio), and Dominique Visse (Delfo).

Max Emanuel Cencic is in rehearsals in Athens for a spectacular new production of Cavalli’s Pompeo Magno, set to open the 6th Bayreuth Baroque Festival on September 4, with further performances on September 6, 9, 12, and 14, all taking place in the historical Magravial Opera House. Cencic directs the production, with Leonardo García-Alarcón conducting Cappella Mediterranea, set design by Helmut Stürmer, and costumes by Corina Gramosteanu.

In May and June 2025, Max Emanuel Cencic will perform three major opera roles and give two concerts with different programs for his audience.

Today, on May 13, 2025, Max Emanuel Cencic will take the stage at the MusikTheater an der Wien as Gualtiero in the rarely performed Bononcini opera Griselda. Max “unearthed” this opera, which will be conducted by Benjamin Bayl leading the Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra. The artist already performed the role of Gualtiero in 2022 in Wrocław and Bayreuth. The Bayreuth performance was recorded and can be viewed here.

The 2023 new production of the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival, Flavio (an opera by George Frideric Handel), will be staged at the Latvian National Opera in Riga starting on May 21, 2025. The production is directed by Max Emanuel Cencic, who will also sing the role of Guido. The performances, conducted by Andris Veismanis, will run through December 21, 2025. Here is a video of Max singing the aria “Rompo i lacci” from Flavio.

In June 2025, Max will take on the title role in Handel’s opera Poro for the first time (role debut). Martyna Pastuszka will conduct her orchestra oh! Orkiestra in concert performances at the Ulrichskirche as part of the Handel Festival in Halle, and at the Konzerthaus Dortmund during the Klangvokal Music Festival.

Max will also appear at the Handel Festival in Halle on June 9, 2025, presenting a spectacular Gala of Countertenors together with colleagues Bruno de Sá and Ray Chenez at the Händelhalle. On June 13, 2025, he will have the honor of opening the Potsdam Sanssouci Palace Festival with a concert at the Friedenskirche. Both concerts will be conducted by Martyna Pastuszka with oh! Orkiestra, and the Potsdam concert will also feature flutist Laura Quesada as a soloist.

Max Emanuel Cencic has launched his new official website! Discover his latest performances, recordings, upcoming projects, and highlights from his celebrated career as a countertenor and stage director. The website also features press coverage, news, and much more. Visit www.cencic.com and immerse yourself in the world of Max Emanuel Cencic.

For more information or booking inquiries, please contact: georg@parnassus.at.

Cencic’s theatrical talent for gutsier declamatory coloratura takes centre stage. (Gramophone)

Listen to Max Emanuel Cencic perform Non fidi al mar che freme (Scipione nelle Spagne) by Leo.

Purchase Max Emanuel Cencic’s CDs on Parnassus Shop.

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Listen to Max Emanuel Cencic performing Quel vasto, quel fiero (Polifemo) by Porpora.

Purchase Max Emanuel Cencic’s CDs on Parnassus Shop.

Follow Max also on his Facebook and Instagram.

Experience the raw emotion and stunning vocal skill of countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic in this soul-stirring aria Benche mi Sprezzi from Handel’s Tamerlano. Let the music transport you to the Baroque era as Cencic brings Prince Andronico’s inner turmoil to life. Don’t miss this captivating performance!

Opera Tamerlano by George Frideric Handel is a Baroque masterpiece composed in 1724. It tells a story of love, honour, and power struggles centred around the infamous conqueror Tamerlane, inspired by Timur’s historical persona. In the opera, Tamerlano is reimagined as a complex, at times ruthless, ruler caught in a web of personal and political intrigue.

Purchase Max Emanuel Cencic’s CDs on Parnassus Shop.

Follow Max also on his Facebook and Instagram.