Highly praised for her warm quality of voice and unique timbre, soprano Larisa Martínez has established a strong, unique presence in the classical performance world. Ms Martínez was recently seen as Violetta in Wichita Opera’s production of La Traviata, and as Maria from selections of West Side Story with Lawrence Foster and Michael Fabiano at Festival Napa Valley. She has also collaborated with violinist Joshua Bell on the Emmy-nominated PBS special, Live from Lincoln Center: Seasons of Cuba. As part of the same project, she has traveled to Cuba as part of the artistic delegation sent by former president Barack Obama to expand cultural collaboration and bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Ms. Martinez made her Kennedy Center recital debut in September 2019 and her Carnegie Hall debut In October 2019 at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage singing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” with the Athens Philharmonic led by Yiannis Hadjiloizou. For the last two years, Ms. Martínez has been touring with Andrea Bocelli, debuting at Madison Square Garden and throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Notable appearances in the 2019-20 season include with the Grand Rapids Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, and a return to Festival Napa Valley. In 2020, Ms. Martínez made her debuts at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and with the Wheeling Symphony, and returned with the Grand Rapids Symphony, performing a Voice & the Violin program with Joshua Bell.
Ms. Martínez made her debut in 2010 as Luisa Fernanda in Zarzuela, presented at the Centro de Belles Artes de Puerto Rico. In New York, she sang Corinna in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims, earning the praise of Fred Cohen from Opera News, who wrote, “Ms. Martínez cut an elegant figure, the grace of her stage deportment matched that of her singing.” She also earned raves from Roark Littlefield for Musetta in Loft Opera’s critically acclaimed production of La Bohème in 2014. “As Musetta, Larisa Martinez is delightful, embodying every nuance of that infamously charismatic character.” She was also lauded for her roles of Fire/Rossignol from L’enfant et les Sortilèges and Rosario in Granados’ Goyescas with Bare Opera in New York. In July 2016, she created the role of Isaura in the world premiere of Mercadante’s Francesca da Rimini in Martina, Franca, Italy conducted by the Metropolitan Opera’s Principal Conductor, Fabio Luisi. Other roles in her repertoire include Gilda, Juliette, Adina, Norina, Susanna, Giulietta and Lucía di Lammermoor.
An avid recitalist with a passion for art song and theater, Ms. Martínez has been showcased at the American Songbook with Michael Feinstein, Lyric Chamber Music Society and Music Talks Series in New York, the Savannah Voice Festival, Bay View Music Festival in Michigan and internationally with the Franz Schubert Society in Austria, and L’Art du Chant Francais across southern France. Her concert appearances include Mahler’s Symphony No.4, Mozart’s Requiem in D minor and Voci di Domani concert presented by Renata Scotto and recorded by Euroclassics in Rome, Italy.
Ms. Martínez is a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition PR district in 2016, where she also received the Angel Ramos Foundation Award and the Audience Prize. She was invited by the Metropolitan Opera Guild 2018 Annual Gala as a guest artist to honor Anna Netrebko. In 2018, Ms. Martínez also recorded Voices of Opera with tenor Carlton Moe, a new virtual instrument produced by EastWest Sounds in Los Angeles.
Ms. Martínez studied at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico, received her Bachelor’s degree with high honors in Environmental Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, and holds a Master’s degree from Mannes the New School for Music. Ms. Martínez is a proud artistic resident of Turnaround Arts, led by the Presidential Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
https://www.larisamartinez.com/
http://turnaroundarts.pcah.gov/portfolio/larisa-martinez/
http://www.soundsonline.com/voices-of-opera
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