La Scala, Covent Garden, Wiener Staatsoper; Domingo, Carreras, Maazel – famous houses, well-known names. Soprano Íride Martínez is successful since many years. The Costa Rican-born singer has a clear and strong voice, is talented in acting and singing and shows her latinamerican spirit. At present she is part of the ensemble at Wiener Staatsoper and appears on international stages.
Íride Martínez is back in Amsterdam im march 2015 singing "Königin der Nacht" in "Die Zauberflöte" at Dutch Opera.
As part of the ensemble at Wiener Staatsoper Íride Martínez was Marie in "La fille du régiment" (Director: Bruno Campanella) in november 2013. At her side: Star-tenor Juan Diego Flórez. Another huge success in 2013 was „Capriccio“ at Wiener Staatsoper with famous Renée Fleming. In october 2013 Íride Martínez made her debut as Aminta in "Die schweigsame Frau" (Richard Strauss) in Budapest, directed by Ferenc Anger. She also was Fiakermilli in Paris in 2012/2013 and Konstanze in Hannover. In 2012/2013 Íride Martínez appeared in several productions of "Die Zauberflöte". As a fulminant Queen of the Night she appeared in Oviedo, at Berliner Staatsoper and at Wiener Staatsoper. The new production of "Zauberflöte / Magic Flute" of december 2012 in Amsterdam was also very successful.
Íride Martínez startet her musical education in her native country Costa Rica. She took the unique chance to get to Europe to study and to work on her carreer. She took classes with famous singers like Mirella Freni, Elio Battaglia and Wilma Lipp in acting and singing. For an Costa Rican woman a step like this is still unthinkable. Because of that Íride Martínez is an idol for her countrymen. With passion, hard work and fixity of purpose Íride Martínez became a famous soprano on international stages. Her official debut took place in 1994 at Teatro de la Ópera de Roma, where she sang the part of Norina in "Don Pasquale". From 1995 until 2002 she belonged to the Cologne Opera ensemble.
With an exquisite technique, with variety and lots of talent in acting and singing Íride Martínez presentet different parts in different styles and eras. For example: „Nachtigall in Die Vögel/Braunsfeld“, „Königin von Schemaka in El gallo de oro/Rimsky-Korsakov“ at Bregenzer Festspiele, a Pountney/Fedosejev produktion. She also played the role of „Marfa in La esposa del Zar/ Rimsky-Korsakov“ accompanied by Wiener Symphonikern. For her part as Viola/Cesario, world premier of “Was ihr wollt” by M. Trojahn at Bayerischen Staatsoper, she won the title “Junior Talent of the Year 1998”.
Shows at „Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik“, „Wiener Festwochen“ and at „Salzburger Festspiele“ followed. The Opéra National Bastille Paris engaged her for the first release of Pintschers „L’Espace dernier“. She made her debut at Glyndebourne Festival as Tytania in „A Midsummer Night’s Dream“. In 1999 she followed the call of Dresdner Semperoper, where she was “Ariadne auf Naxos”, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
In 2007 her title role of „Lucia de Lammermoor“ was a huge success at Deutsche Oper Berlin. Because of that she had the chance to take the main part of “La hija del Cielo” in Las Palmas/Gran Canaria. A production of La Fura del Baus.
Íride Martínez made her debut in 2008 at La Scala in a double role in Lorin Maazel’s „1984“. Concerts with Plácido Domingo in 2008 and 2010 in Costa Rica were followed by a performance with José Carreras in Mexico in 2011. In 2011 she made her debut atCovent Garden as Norina.
In her concerts she is accompanied of Bamberger Symphonikern, Gürzenichorchester Cologne, Wiener Symphoniker, Orquesta de la RAI Turín, Orchester Santa Cecilia de Roma and Filarmónica Checa en Praga. Her debut with Berliner Philharmonikern was very successful in 2003.
Íride Martínez is working with famous conductors like Lorin Mazel, Ivor Bolton, James Conlon, Sir Colin Davis, Semyon Byschkov, Valery Gergjev, Fabio Luisi, René Jacobs, Vladimir Fedosejev.