Alessandro nell’Indie - Schedule, Program & Tickets
Alessandro nell’Indie
Dramma per musica in three acts
Libretto by Pietro Metastasio
Austrian premiere
The composer Leonardo Vinci was the eccentric star of Neapolitan and Roman opera in the 1720s, whose works were almost completely forgotten until a concert performance of his last opera, Artaserse, rekindled enthusiasm for his music a few years ago. Vinci's penultimate opera, Alessandro nell'Indie, also remained unperformed for almost 300 years until singer and director Max Emanuel Cencic brought it back to the stage for the first time at the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival in 2022. The opera, which premiered in Rome in 1730 and tells of Alexander the Great's (Alessandro's) campaign to India, is the first musical setting of one of Pietro Metastasio's most successful librettos. In it, Alexander loves the Indian queen Cleofide, who, however, has already promised her heart to King Poro, whom Alexander defeated. This unfolds into an emotionally charged drama of love, intrigue, jealousy, and renunciation. Since women were not allowed to perform in public in the Papal States in the 18th century, Vinci composed Alessandro nell'Indie exclusively for male singers. Max Emanuel Cencic's production playfully plays with the opulent means of Baroque theater and tells the intricate plot in the style of a Bollywood revue. A spectacular ensemble of five of the best countertenors of the younger generation will be brought together: Bruno de Sá, Dennis Orellana, Maayan Licht, Jake Arditti, and Nicholas Tamagna, as well as tenor Stefan Sbonnik.
Sung in Italian with German and English surtitles
Introduction 30 minutes before the start of each performance
Co-production with Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival
Subject to change.
Libretto by Pietro Metastasio
Austrian premiere
The composer Leonardo Vinci was the eccentric star of Neapolitan and Roman opera in the 1720s, whose works were almost completely forgotten until a concert performance of his last opera, Artaserse, rekindled enthusiasm for his music a few years ago. Vinci's penultimate opera, Alessandro nell'Indie, also remained unperformed for almost 300 years until singer and director Max Emanuel Cencic brought it back to the stage for the first time at the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival in 2022. The opera, which premiered in Rome in 1730 and tells of Alexander the Great's (Alessandro's) campaign to India, is the first musical setting of one of Pietro Metastasio's most successful librettos. In it, Alexander loves the Indian queen Cleofide, who, however, has already promised her heart to King Poro, whom Alexander defeated. This unfolds into an emotionally charged drama of love, intrigue, jealousy, and renunciation. Since women were not allowed to perform in public in the Papal States in the 18th century, Vinci composed Alessandro nell'Indie exclusively for male singers. Max Emanuel Cencic's production playfully plays with the opulent means of Baroque theater and tells the intricate plot in the style of a Bollywood revue. A spectacular ensemble of five of the best countertenors of the younger generation will be brought together: Bruno de Sá, Dennis Orellana, Maayan Licht, Jake Arditti, and Nicholas Tamagna, as well as tenor Stefan Sbonnik.
Sung in Italian with German and English surtitles
Introduction 30 minutes before the start of each performance
Co-production with Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival
Subject to change.