By Her Absence – A Portrait of Marianna Martines

An ode to composer Marianna Martines (1744-1812). As a young girl, this multi-talented Viennese lived in the same house as composer Joseph Haydn and the flamboyant poet Pietro Metastasio. As a woman, she stood out for her expressive singing voice, virtuoso harpsichord playing, and fiery compositions. She also founded a singing school for girls, laying the foundation for the greatest 18th-century Viennese vocal stars. 

More than 200 years after her death, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and soprano Elisabeth Hetherington bring her back to life on stage. Central to the performance are two of her most beautiful works, La Tempeste and Berenice, ah che fai. The orchestra will play music by Joseph Haydn and a new composition by Kate Moore. Martine’s story is one of resilience, triumph and an unshakeable personality.