(Source: Max Emanuel Cencic Official Website)

The International Opera Festival Bayreuth Baroque is set to kick off for the first time in its history in 2020. 

The event, which will take place at the Margravial Opera House, will be led by appointed artistic director countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic, who is contracted for three years and convinced the city of Bayreuth to take up the concept for the festival.

The festival opens on Sept. 3 and will take place for 10 days, ending on Sept. 13, 2020. The full lineup of operas will be announced on Feb. 5, 2020. 

“As appointed director of Bayreuth Baroque, I am deeply honored to lead the festival and set the program,” Cencic stated in a press release. “I am most grateful for the trust given by the city council and the city of Bayreuth who I would like to thank sincerely. The Margravial Opera House has a unique place in the history of music. We owe Richard Wagner a dept of gratitude for recognizing the value of this opera house and for his commitment preserving the house for future generations. Presenting operas in this historic house, that have never or hardly have been played in the past 300 years, is a dream come true for me. There are no limits to our imagination and with this in mind – I am truly privileged to set new accents with this festival in Bayreuth’s music culture.”