In this concert, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century pays tribute to the forgotten composer Marianna Martines. Together with soprano Elisabeth Hetherington (winner of the Dutch Music Prize 2024) and directed by Peter Leung, they tell the story of this multi-talented woman from Vienna.
As a young girl, Marianna Martines shared a home with the struggling composer Joseph Haydn and the flamboyant poet and librettist Pietro Metastasio. As a woman, she fascinated royalty and audiences alike with her expressive voice, virtuosic harpsichord playing and fiery compositions. Later, as a teacher, she founded a singing school for girls, shaping the voices of Vienna's finest 18th-century artists.
After her death, her name slowly fell into oblivion.
More than 200 years late, O18c and Elisabeth Hetherington are bringing her back to life on stage. At the center are two of her finest works, "La Tempeste" and "Berenice, ah che fai. Around these, the orchestra folds music by her contemporary Haydn, and a completely new composition by Kate Moore.
Martines' story is not one of oblivion; it is one of resilience, triumph and unwavering character.
Works by Marianna Martines, Joseph Haydn and a new work by Kate Moore
Elisabeth Hetherington soprano
Benjamin Perry Wenzelberg Musical direction
Peter Leung choreography