There’s no place like home… especially if that home was the family apartment of classical composer Marianna von Martines. The family flat occupied the third floor of the Altes Michaelerhaus--- on a plaza shared with one of Vienna’s oldest churches, as well as the famed Old Burgtheater, where three of Mozart’s operas and Beethoven’s first symphony all premiered. And that home contained a secret weapon: a roommate by the name of Pietro Metastasio, Poet laureate of the Austrian Empire, author of over 30 opera librettos, and famed throughout Europe.
Metastasio took a keen interest in all the Martines’ children’s education, and arranged for the young Marianna to take music lessons with two other residents of their building--- first, an attic-dwelling young musician named Franz Joseph Haydn--- Then, the famous singing teacher and opera composer Nicolo Porpora. She advanced quickly and began to perform outside the home, most notably at the Imperial Court.
Martines furthered her composition studies with Johann Adolph Hasse and Court Composer Giuseppe Bonno, and became the first woman ever admitted to the ranks of the prestigious Accademia Philharmonica of Bologna in 1773.
After Metastasio’s death Marianna and her sister inherited his estate, enabling them to remain comfortably in their home. The soirees they hosted there included the best musicians around Vienna--- including former teacher Haydn--- and Mozart, who wrote keyboard duets just to perform with Marianna, who was also a gifted pianist.
Martines wrote four Masses (one performed next door to her home!) as well as oratorios, cantatas, psalm settings, piano sonatas and concertos, and even a symphony.
Marianna von Martines… at the right place at the right time… and a Composing Woman.
Repertoire
Dixit Dominus (Psalm 110)
La Tempesta, cantata for soprano
Overture in C major, movt 1
Come le limpide onde, Psalm 42
Piano Sonata in E major
Keyboard Concerto in A major
Supporting Materials
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marianna_Martines,_Pupil_of_P._Metastasio;_born_in_Vienna,_4th_day_of_May_1744,_Member_Academia_Filarmonica.jpg
