Pianist Idith Meshulam Korman, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey. Marianna Martines - CD Review, 4th of May 2026

Marianna Martines - Piano Concerts in G major and E major

Premiere album, released on April 17th

May 4th marks the 282nd anniversary of Marianna Martines' birth (1774-1812), a composer, vocal performer and harpsichordist who lived during the classical period in Vienna, coming from a family of Spanish and Austrian origins. The musician studied with Adolph Hasse and Nicola Porpora and created masses, motets, cantatas, oratorios and scores for the harpsichord - works that have been ignored for over two centuries. The composer hosted cultural events in her lounge in Vienna, attended by aristocratic figures and important artists of the time, her events often being attended by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A complete collection of the sonatas and concerts belonging to this composer is included in an album released on April 17th, by Idith Meshulam Korman - an Israeli pianist based in New York, who dedicates herself to performing and promoting forgotten musical pieces, especially written by women. The pianist states that upon her first encounter with Marianna Martines' work she was astounded by the lyricism, originality and beauty of her music, as well as the fact that her pieces have been missing from concert halls and recording catalogs despite their undeniable value.

Therefore, Idith Korman wishes to honor Marianne Martines with this double disc, recorded in April 2024 at St. Jude on the Hill in London and released at Alpha Classics. The pieces on the album have been recorded alongside the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey.

This double disc aims to fix a historical omission and displays for the first time the harpsichord sonatas and concerts by Marianna Martines. Idith Korman, pianist, states that: "By exploring her music, I have become familiar with the unique musical language and piano challenges it implies. The need for precision, the recurring patterns, the complicated passages and the expressiveness. For this recording, I have chosen a Bechstein piano, hoping that it will capture the brightness and clarity of this music." With a delicate touch, technical agility and a proper understanding of the particularities of Viennese Classicism, Idith Korman elevates the qualities of Marianna Martines' work.

Idith Meshulam Korman has a vast performing and pedagogical experience, has a doctorate in music at New York University and is a teacher at Bard College. Taking an interest in lesser known repertoires, the pianist has previously recorded works by Nikos Skalkottas, Laura Kaminsky and Marianna Martines.