Imagine taking piano lessons from Franz Joseph Haydn and playing piano duets with W.A. Mozart, who composed piano works just for you.
That’s what happened to Marianna Martines who went on to be a composer, pianist and singer in Vienna, Austria.
Haydn was just 18 when he gave 7 year old Marianna piano lessons. They both lived in the same apartment building and those lessons allowed Haydn to live rent free. Years later, Martines was invited to perform for the Empress Maria Theresa at the Imperial Court. The concert included two arias and piano presentations.
Financially stable, she opened her own salon for musicians and held parties at her home where Mozart, Haydn, and Salieri were frequent guests. Mozart composed piano works for her as they played piano duets for those in attendance.
Marianna’s keyboard style has been compared to that of Haydn and C.P.E. Bach. Music critics describe her piano performance as “elegant, charming and spirited with flashes of playful wit”.
Marianna Martines was the first woman to gain entry into the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna in 1773. She has been credited with nearly 65 compositions that include masses, motets, cantatas, and several piano concertos and sonatas.
Signum Records just released a double CD featuring compositions of Marianna Martines. In these recordings, you’ll hear four keyboard concertos, three keyboard sonatas and a sinfonia composed in the 1770’s.
I enjoyed listening to her works with pianist Idith Meshula Korman and conductor Cayenne Ponchione-Bailey. Both women are shining the spotlight on women composers from all generations in order to have their music heard in the concert halls, in schools and on the radio.
You’ll be hearing this recording on Classical 91.5 from time to time. I hope that you’ll be able to sample this music and to learn more about Marianna Martines.
