The celebrated Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival production of Alessandro nell’Indie by Leonardo Vinci directed by Max Emanuel Cencic comes to MusikTheater an der Wien this April, marking its Austrian premiere.
Performances take place on 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21 April 2026.
Composed in 1730 to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio, Alessandro nell’Indie tells the story of Alexander the Great’s Indian campaign. At its core lies a powerful emotional conflict: Alessandro is in love with the Indian queen Cleofide, while she remains loyal to Poro, the defeated king. The opera unfolds as a drama of love, loyalty, jealousy, and sacrifice.
Originally written for an all-male cast, reflecting performance traditions of the time, the work had been largely forgotten for centuries before its recent rediscovery. This vibrant staging by Max Emanuel Cencic, first seen at the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival, combines Baroque theatrical richness with a visually striking, Bollywood-inspired aesthetic.
The musical direction is led by Martyna Pastuszka, with {oh!} Orkiestra and the Arnold Schoenberg Chor (chorus master: Erwin Ortner).
The outstanding cast includes:
Bruno de Sá (Cleofide), Dennis Orellana (Poro), Maayan Licht (Alessandro), Jake Arditti (Erissena), Nicholas Tamagna (Timagene), and Stefan Sbonnik (Gandarte).
Creative team:
Max Emanuel Cencic (Director), Martyna Pastuszka (Conductor), Domenico Franchi (Stage Design), Giuseppe Palella (Costume Design), David Debrinay (Light Design), Sumon Rudra (Choreography).
Performed in Italian with German and English surtitles.
Introduction to the work 30 minutes before each performance.
Co-production with the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival.
