ARTISTS

Max Emanuel Cencic – Counter tenor
George Petrou – Conductor
Armonia Atenea – Orchestra

PROGRAMME

George Frideric Handel
La trigre arde di sdegno
from Admeto, Re di Tessaglia HWV 22

Cara sposa, amato bene
from Radamisto HWV 12a/12b

All’orror delle procelle
from Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra HWV 23

Son stanco, ingiusti Numi – Deggio morire, o stelle
from Siroe, Re di Persia HWV 24

Al lampo dell’armi
from Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17

Se dolce m’era già viver
from Floridante HWV 14

Se fiera belva ha cinto
from Rodelinda, Regina de’ Longobardi HWV 19

Cielo! Se tu il consenti
from Orlando HWV 31

Dall’ondoso periglio – Aure, deh, per pietà
from Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17

ABOUT

In this unique concert, Max Emanuel Cencic focuses on one of the most famous and notorious star singers of the eighteenth century. Francesco Bernardi, called Senesino, was one of the most avidly sought-after castrati of his time. Johann Joachim Quantz wrote about him: “Senesino had a penetrating, bright and sweet contralto voice. His countenance was well adapted to the stage and his acting was natural.” In 1719, George Frideric Handle heard him in Dresden and immediately engaged him for London, where he stirred up a furore of adulation, but not without backstage scandals. And even if Senesino and Handel couldn’t stand each other, nevertheless, the world-famous composer still wrote his most beautiful melodies for the throat of the capricious star.