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CD feature/ Ana Maria Martinez: "Soprano Songs and Arias"

  Tobias

I'd like you to keep two things in mind while reading: First of all, that it’s 2005 as I’m writing this. And secondly, that I really tried hard not to draw any comparisons.

But how could one refrain from looking for differences between the Ana featured on this disc, a young and incredibly gifted soprano currently enjoying her MET Debut and the Anna featured about everywhere else in the world of Classical music, flirting with the audience, fotographers and Rolando Villazon? Especially when both revert to the miracle called “O mio babbino caro”, one of Opera’s finest moments ever. While Netrebko and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra shine in a moment of subdued romanticism on the diva’s second effort “sempre libera”, Ana Maria Martinez’ version seems to have been beamed back from a different time, a golden era, thought to exist only in our minds and imagination: Far away from glitter and glam, her interpretation breathes the pureness and innocence originally displayed in this piece’s lyrics. Martinez’ timbre is less edgy and dominant than Netrebko’s, her voice warmer and her vibrato softer – but never less insistent. And she has just the right recording partner in Michael Fine, who has captured the Prague Philharmonic with an old-fashioned depth and intimacy. In combination with a tailor-made repertoire of Puccini (which she performs with a lush flow), Lehar (the “Vilja Lied” profits from an almost casual, but nonetheless painful approach) and the seven minute fairytale of Canteloube’s “Bailero”, this makes for a mellow, dreamy and addictive solo debut, which lends itself to playing again and again. There’s no glossy pictures in the booklet and no page-long introduction – and no need for any either.

Most incredibly, the album was recorded in the year 2000. It’s hard to imagine how Ana’s voice must have grown since then and what this disc would sound like today. As it is, its impact is strong enough. I tried hard avoiding the usual journalistic rubbish, but there’s just no way around it: This is one of the greatest discoveries of the year.

Homepage: Ana Maria Martinez
Homepage: Ana Maria Martinez at Naxos
Homepage: Ana Maria Martinez at JAG Entertainment