Santiago MARTINEZ
Tenor
Santiago Martínez was born in La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Initially a history licensee, he comes to music by chance, starting in some of the most important a capella ensembles in his country (Conjunto Música Prohibita, Vocal de Cámara Platense y Grupo vocal de Difusión), browsing a diverse repertoire including ancient, romantic and contemporary music, and participating in prestigious musical cycles such as the CETC of the Théâtre Colon, the Cycle of Contemporary Music of the Theatre of San Martin and the International Symposium of Choral Music.
He then began his singing studies with Maestro Daniel Zuppa and repertoire studies with Maestra Luz María Suarez Pepe, singing in the opera «Didon et Enée» by Purcell, «Iphigénie en Tauride» by Gluck, «L'enfant Prodigue» Debussy for the opera workshop of the Conservatoire musical de La Plata and in «Gulevandia» of the group Les Luthiers, for the opera workshop "Opéra, from the inside" of the National University of La Plata. During this period he also participated in chamber music concerts in Buenos Aires and joined the Opera Studio of the Argentine Theatre of La Plata.
In 2014, he joined the choir of the Argentine Theatre of La Plata and began his vocal technique studies with the Maestro Gustavo Lopez Manzitti (with whom he is still perfecting) and the Maestra Patricia Gonzalez, and repertoire with the Maestro Juan Paul Scafidi.
He then participated in several productions of Rossini’s «Barbier de Séville» at the Argentine Theatre of La Plata and in Buenos Aires, in Bizet’s «Carmen» for the Juventus Lyrica company, and in Sebastian de Boeris' opera «Le dilemme d'Antigone Velez».
He recently joined in 2016-2017 the Opera Studio of the teatro de la Plata participating in concerts of belcantiste repertoire with the Camerata Academica of the same Theatre, under the direction of Maestro Sebastian de Filipis, to shows dedicated to the repertoire of Monteverdi with the musical preparation of the Maestra Rosa Dominguez, under the direction of the Maestro Federico Ciancio and directed by Pablo Maritano, and «The occasion makes the larron» Rossini under the direction of Maestro Bernardo Teruggi, directed by Julián Garcés.
In the same year he played the main role of the shepherd José in the zarzuela «The Court of Pharaoh" by V. Lleó, for the season of the Argentine Theatre, under the direction of Maestro Ezequiel Fautario, directed by Carlos Iaquinta, role in which the critic emphasizes his "vocal and physical solidity", his "very beautiful tenor voice" and his "great ability to game", and for which he receives the "Special Remark" as a tenor by the digital magazine "Opera in the World". He then assumed the role of Ferrando in «Cosi fan tutte» by W. A. Mozart for the company Sol Lirica, under the musical direction of Maestro Ulises Maino, directed by Julián Garces, where stands out the "elegance of his singing" and the "great quality" of his game.
He is also chosen to play the role of Oebalus in «Apollo and Jacinta» by W. A. Mozart, for the Colón Theatre Chamber Opera directed by Maestro Marcelo Lombardero, under the musical direction of Maestro Ulises Maino, directed by Igancio Cano, where it is written of him that he "offered the greatest moments of the evening", and where his "homogeneous register", his "limpid stamp" and his play are especially noticed, emphasizing that he realizes a "memorable portrait of the pathetic king who mourns the death of his son".
In December 2017, he received the Special Prize Mady Mesplé (Best Interpretation of a French Tune) during the 7th edition of the Belcanto Vincenzo Bellini International Competition. He participates in the Winter Workshop of the Vincenzo Bellini Belcanto Academy, as part of the New Year Music Festival in Gstaad, perfecting with Maestro Marco Guidarini and the famous Mezzo-Soprano Viorica Cortéz. On the occasion of the closing recital, he received excellent echoes in the Press, which highlighted in particular his "virtuous energy" and his "natural refinement": “It confirms an immediate presence, an extraordinary brilliance in the presentation of the stamp, a valour reminiscent of Luigi Alva or Rockwel Blake – a refined colour that fits in Juan Diego Florez’s current footsteps. Nothing less [… ] It takes a lot of audacity and facetious panache to succeed in the air so rare on stage and yet crucial in the affirmation of the character of Almaviva in Le Barbier de Séville: « Cessa di piu resistere ». From the outset, the suitability of the singer with Rossinian verve and finesse is imposed with an incredible insolence. This is truly an agile tenor «di grazia». Scenes from all over the world are waiting for a new Almaviva, powerful and interior. Santiago Martinez has all of this. Just for this first look, the soloist deserves the best praise and gets special attention. A huge potential, to follow now». (Classiquenews, 2018).
He is currently perfecting his repertoire with Maestro Enrique Ricci and his vocal technique with Maestra Anne María González, and preparing his next roles for 2018: the role Rodé for the opera «Three Sisters» by Peter Eötvös, the tenor soloist of «Stabat Mater» by G.Rossini, both programmed in the official season of the Colón Theatre, and the role of Ferrando in «Cosi fan tutte» for the new season the season of the Argentine Theatre of La Plata, in addition to several concerts of the belcantiste repertoire.
Santiago Martinez in "La Danza"
