Ana María Opens LA Opera’s 30th Anniversary Season with “Achingly Beautiful” Nedda

Ana María Martínez stars in the opening of LA Opera’s 30th anniversary season, performing the role of Nedda in Zeffirelli’s Pagliacci. Conducted by Plácido Domingo, Pagliacci is featured in a double bill with Gianni Schicchi, which is staged by Woody Allen with Domingo in the title role.

Highlights of Pagliacci include “Stridono lassù,” “sung bewitchingly by Ana María Martínez,” wrote Bachtrack, “whose Nedda was exceptionally strong. Martínez’s steely soprano is an instrument that is foreboding yet achingly beautiful.”

The Los Angeles Times raved about the Grammy-winning soprano’s performance: “Ana María Martínez brought full voice to Nedda, Canio’s unfaithful wife.” The Orange County Register concurred, adding that Ana María “brought full voice to Nedda.”

“Ana Maria Martinez was superb as Canio’s amorous wife, Nedda,” wrote The Los Angeles Daily News, which applauded Ana María’s “flexible, soaring soprano voice combined with smoldering sensuality.”

In addition to her appearances in Los Angeles, Ana María can also be heard in a recording of Pagliacci with frequent collaborator Andrea Bocelli.

Performances of Pagliacci, also starring Marco Berti, George Gagnidze, Liam Bonner, and Brenton Ryan, continue at LA Opera through October 3.

 

In the first of two engagements at Los Angeles Opera in the 2015-16 season, Ana María Martínez stars as Nedda in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Pagliacci, conducted by Plácido Domingo. Ana María is featured alongside Marco Berti as Canio, George Gagnidze as Tonio, Liam Bonner as Silvio, and Brenton Ryan as Beppe.

Pagliacci runs from September 12 to October 3 and is seen in a double-bill that also includes a production of Gianni Schicchi starring Plácido Domingo and directed by Woody Allen.

The Grammy-winning soprano made her debut at LA Opera as Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, and has since performed the roles of Violetta in La Traviata and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra.

Ana María returns to LA Opera in the spring of 2016 to reprise her signature role of Cio-Cio San in Lee Blakeley’s acclaimed production of Madama Butterfly.

Discover Ana María’s full calendar here.