Max Emanuel Cencic is chiefly known as a member (and frequent soloist) of the Wiener Sängerknaben, or Vienna Boys' Choir, from 1987 to 1992. But he also achieved the remarkable feat, after leaving the choir, of continuing to perform as a boy soprano despite the fact that his voice had changed with the arrival of adolescence. He performed widely in solo recitals and a number of opera productions through 1997. Up to the early-to-mid 20th Century,
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Max Emanuel Cencic is chiefly known as a member (and frequent soloist) of the Wiener Sängerknaben, or Vienna Boys' Choir, from 1987 to 1992. But he also achieved the remarkable feat, after leaving the choir, of continuing to perform as a boy soprano despite the fact that his voice had changed with the arrival of adolescence. He performed widely in solo recitals and a number of opera productions through 1997. Up to the early-to-mid 20th Century, boy sopranos (now often called trebles) were typically trained to perform using techniques that enabled them to continue to sing in the soprano range well into their teens. Some of the most renowned trebles of the 1920s and 1930s, for instance, reached 16 or 17 years of age before they ended their careers. Since WWII, the prevalent style has shifted to a softer, more "natural" voice, with the result that few boys can continue singing as sopranos beyond the age of 13. Max represents a notable exception to that nearly universal trend. His work is represented in a number of albums of the Wiener Sängerknaben as well as a few small-label solo recordings, chiefly of Lieder accompanied by piano. From 2001, Max changed his vocal style, and resumed his career as a countertenor.
