Larisa Martinez Wikipedia, Age, Husband, Height, Family & BIO: Who Is Opera Singer
Larisa Martinez is a Puerto Rican opera singer who has been praised for her warm and unique voice, and her versatility in performing different genres of music. She is also the wife of Joshua Bell, one of the most celebrated violinists and conductors in the world.
Together, they form a classical music power couple, who have collaborated on various projects and toured extensively, presenting a program called “Voice and the Violin” that showcases their talents and chemistry.
Larisa Martinez Wiki/Bio
| Full name | Larisa Martinez |
| Date of birth | 1987 |
| Place of birth | Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Hair color | Black |
| Profession | Opera singer |
| Education | Music Conservatory in San Juan, University of Puerto Rico, Mannes the New School for Music |
| Spouse | Joshua Bell (m. 2019) |
| Awards | Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Audition in Puerto Rico, Angel Ramos Foundation Award, Audience Prize |
| Links | Instagram- @larisamartinezsoprano Homepage- Newsunzip |
Early Life, Birthday, and Education
Larisa Martinez who is now 36 years old was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she developed a love for music and nature at an early age. She started singing in her school choir and later joined the Puerto Rico Children’s Choir, where she received vocal training and performed in various concerts and tours.
She also studied environmental sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, graduating with high honors. She was fascinated by the natural beauty and diversity of her island and wanted to learn more about how to protect it.
Larisa Martinez did not plan to pursue a career in opera, but fate had other plans for her. She auditioned for the Music Conservatory of San Juan, where she was accepted and offered a full scholarship. There, she studied vocal performance and discovered her passion for opera. She also participated in several masterclasses and workshops with renowned opera singers and coaches, such as Renata Scotto, Joan Dornemann, and Fabrizio Melano.
Height, Weight
- Height: around 5 ft 6 in or 167 cm
- Weight: around 128 lb or 58 kg
- Eye color: brown
- Body measurements: around 35-25-35 in or 89-63.5-89 cm
- Skin color: light tan
- Hair color: black
Career and Achievements
Larisa Martinez made her operatic debut in 2010, as Luisa Fernanda in the zarzuela of the same name, at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Puerto Rico. Zarzuela is a Spanish traditional form of musical comedy, that combines spoken dialogue, songs, and dances.
Since then, she has sung various roles in operas such as Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims, Puccini’s La Bohème, Mercadante’s Francesca da Rimini, and Massenet’s Werther. She has also performed in concerts and recitals, singing works by composers such as Mahler, Mozart, Villa-Lobos, and Puerto Rican and Spanish composers.
Some of the highlights of her career include:
- In 2016, she won the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Audition in Puerto Rico, as well as the Angel Ramos Foundation Award and the Audience Prize.
- In 2016, she was invited as part of President Barack Obama’s artistic delegation to Cuba, in an effort to expand cultural collaboration and friendships between the two countries. She was featured in the Emmy-nominated PBS special, Live from Lincoln Center: Seasons of Cuba.
- In 2018, she made her Kennedy Center debut in recital and Carnegie Hall debut, singing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Athens Philharmonic.
- In 2018, she was chosen and sampled by EastWest Sounds Studios for its new virtual instrument software, “Voices of Opera”, used by composers and engineers worldwide.
- In 2019, she appeared with the Grand Rapids Symphony, performing Villa-Lobos’ Floresta do Amazonas.
- For the last three years, she has toured with tenor Andrea Bocelli, debuting at Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl, and throughout North America, South America, and Europe.
- She has also collaborated with her husband, Joshua Bell, on Medici TV’s Christmas Special, Joshua Bell and Friends, and on their ongoing program, “Voice and the Violin”.
Married Life
Larisa Martinez married Joshua Bell in October 2019, in a ceremony at their New York home, officiated by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Joshua Bell is a renowned violinist and conductor, who has performed with some of the greatest orchestras and conductors in the world, and has won multiple awards, including a Grammy and an Avery Fisher Prize.
He is also the music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the only person to hold this post since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958.
Larisa and Joshua met in 2016, when they were both performing at the White House for President Obama’s state dinner for the Prime Minister of Italy. They hit it off immediately, and soon discovered their mutual love for music, travel, and family. They have four children between them: They live in New York, but also have homes in Indiana, where Joshua grew up, and Puerto Rico, where Larisa’s family lives.
Voice and the Violin
Larisa Martinez and Joshua Bell have created a unique and captivating program, called “Voice and the Violin”, that explores repertoire ranging from classical art song and opera, to musical theater, to a series of selections by Puerto Rican and Spanish composers. They have presented their specially arranged program on various stages, such as 92NY in NYC, Brevard Music Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Chautauqua Amphitheater, Hawaii Symphony, and Ravinia Festival. They have also plans to continue their tour in 2023.
The program showcases their individual and combined talents, as well as their personal and artistic connection. They have said that they enjoy performing together, because they inspire and challenge each other, and because they share a similar vision and passion for music. They have also said that they hope to bring joy and beauty to their audiences, especially in these difficult times, and to celebrate the diversity and richness of musical cultures.
