Program

Composer, singer and virtuous harpsichordist, Mariana Martinez (1744-1812) came from one of the many Spanish families favored by the archduke Carlos in the war of succession at the beginning of the XVIII century. After residing in Naples, the Martínez family moved to Vienna for the coronation of the archduke of Austria as emperor of Germany. Thanks to the poet Pietro Metastasio, the most famous and prolific XVIIIth century librettist, and guest of the Martinez family in Vienna, Mariana received an exceptional musical education, having as teachers Haydn, Porpora and Hasse.
Besides composing and singing, she contributed to corroborate Vienna as a centre of musical life in Europe at the end of the XVIII century. Official heiress of the works of Metastasio, she also created a singing school, musical soirées in which musicians like Mozart, Martin y Soler or Beethoven participated, with whom she performed numerous works.

Among the unusual works she composed, her cantatas and oratorios excel in her period of maturity. From this output, the Royal Chamber Opera Company presents a beautiful selection to create a charming portrait of this women composer.