With the opera “Griselda” by Giovanni Bononcini performed in concert, Bayreuth Baroque 2022 came to an end on Sunday, 18 September. Thus the third edition of the festival under the artistic direction of Max Emanuel Cencic is over after twelve days. The highlight was the rediscovered opera “Alessandro nell' Indie” by Leonardo Vinci in an all-male cast. Guests from all over the world came to the various sold-out performances in the Margravial Opera House and other baroque venues in the city. The Bayerischer Rundfunk as well as arte and arte concert, as radio and TV partners, broadcast many of the performances live, and some can still be experienced online. The next edition of Bayreuth Baroque will take place from 7 to 17 September. For the first time, there will be two staged productions – including “Flavio, re de' Longobardi” by George Frideric Handel.
Vinci's “Alesandro nell' Indie” experienced its successful rediscovery in Bayreuth after more than 282 years in the production by Max Emanuel Cencic. In keeping with the tradition of Neapolitan opera, men took on all the roles on stage – including those of the female characters. With Franco Fagioli as Poro, Bruno de Sá as his lover Cleofide and Jake Arditti as his sister Erissena, the production featured three top stars of the international countertenor scene. Musical partner was the {oh!} Orkiestra under its musical director Martyna Pastuszka.
Highlights included solo performances by the celebrated soprano Julia Lezhneva and Jeanine De Bique, who has just been awarded the Opus Klassik. Shooting star Bruno de Sá presented his first solo album “Roma Travestita” live in Bayreuth, which was released by Warner this week. Festival director Max Emanuel Cencic celebrated his 40th stage anniversary in Bayreuth. He dedicated this concert in front of a sold-out house exclusively to Handel arias that the composer wrote for the famous castrato Senesino. As Orchestra in Residence, the {oh!} Orkiestra had the opportunity to present itself to the enthusiastic audience on two further evenings in addition to the opera production.
Once again this year, Bayreuth Baroque paid special attention to the selection of historically significant venues: In addition to the Margravial Opera House and the Schlosskirche in Bayreuth's city centre, concerts were again given in the Hermitage and – a new venue this year – in the Baroque Ordenskirche St. Georgen.
