Noah Max
‘A cry of rage… striking, unforgettable’ (Hugh Canning, Operalogue).
Noah Max creates from scratch in a variety of mediums. He is the writer of more than 70 works for the opera stage and concert hall, which have been performed at venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room in London, as well as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein, Altalena Festival in Budapest and the Paderewski Academy in Poland. Performances in 2026 take place at Paris’ Salle Cortot and in Aarhus, Denmark.
In 2021 Max was awarded the Clements Prize. His debut album Songs of Loneliness was released on Toccata Classics in 2022; String Quartets No.1 – 4 with the Tippet Quartet followed to critical acclaim in 2025, featuring narration from Sir Michael Morpurgo. Recent commissions have included new works for Aarhus Sinfonietta, the London Mozart Players and Imogen Whitehead; forthcoming projects include collaborations with Ian Bostridge, Hugo Ticciati and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Max spent five years bringing his debut opera A Child In Striped Pyjamas op.34 to the stage by special arrangement with Miramax, culminating in a sold-out premiere production at London’s Cockpit Theatre in 2023. The opera was lauded by critics as ‘emotionally ambitious and vocally eloquent’ (The Telegraph) and ‘marvellously scored… A remarkable achievement for a young composer’ (The Arts Desk). Max was interviewed about the opera by The Sunday Times and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, with excerpts from the piece also broadcast on RTÉ Radio. The opera was revived at Brundibár Arts Festival in 2024.
Max’s artworks have been displayed at the National Portrait Gallery. His fourth solo show entitled REDACTION took place at The Tabernacle, London during November 2024.
As performer, Max’s conducting experience spans baroque (Arcangelo) to contemporary music (London Sinfonietta), chamber ensembles (Endymion) to symphony orchestras, choral music (Epiphoni Consort) to ballet (Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures) and opera (A Child In Striped Pyjamas). He was the Founder and Creative Director of Echo Ensemble which premiered more than 100 works over the course of a decade.
Max has been interviewed for BBC Music Magazine, Classical Music and Opera Today; his music has featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, The New Music Show, RTE Radio 1 Arena and RTE Lyric Radio.
Photo © Livia Holbrook.
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
[duration without narration c. 17']
optional narration taken from Jean Giono's 'The Man Who Planted Trees'
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
violin, clarinet, cello and piano -
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Ennui, Op.59, for flugelhorn and piano - 8'
The Other's Discourse, Op.63, for viola and piano - 7'
Based on poetry by Carol Ann Duffy
Based on poetry by Carol Ann Duffy
Based on poetry by Carol Ann Duffy
Listen to a sample clip
Based on poetry by Carol Ann Duffy
from Suite No.1
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, viola 1, viola 2, cello 1, cello 2, cello 3/double bass, optional piano
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
Listen to a sample clip
A Child in Striped Pyjamas (2019-22)
A music drama in two acts, based on the classic novel by John Boyne.
Cast: German Child, Congregation (soprano); Jewish Child, Congregation (mezzo-soprano); Lieutenant Kotler, Cantor, Congregation, Guard (tenor); Father, Cantor, Congregation, Guard (bass).
Chamber Ensemble: Trumpet in B flat (with harmon, bucket, straight and practice mutes); Clarinet in A; String Quartet (all strings require wooden mutes).
By special arrangement with Miramax.
Baritone (Winston Smith / O'Brien)
Piccolo and Alto Flute (G); Bass Clarinet (Bb), Clarinet (A), Piccolo Clarinet (Eb); Bassoon;
Flugelhorn and Piccolo Trumpet (Bb) with straight and practice mutes;
Percussion (one player): Tubular Bells C4-G5, Bass Drum, Guiro, Ratchet, Snare Drum, Tam-Tam, Two Temple Blocks (low and high), Whip;
Violin; Cello;
Piano.
Duration c. 60'.
Noah MAX - Songs of Loneliness: Solos, Duos and Trios
Toccata Classics TOC 0638.
Noah MAX - String Quartets
Toccata Classics 0749.
