Andrew Martens, bass has enjoyed an illustrious career, singing such notable roles as the villains in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Méphistophêlès (Faust), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Colline (La Bohème), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), and Don Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro). Most recently, Mr. Martens sang Ivan (Fledermaus) and Fiorello/Officer (The Barber of Seville) with Opera Theater of Connecticut, Sergeant Meryll (Yeomen of the Guard) with New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and Le Chevalier (Le Roi Arthus) at Bard Summerscape. Recent Bard Summerscape credits include Francesca Zambello’s highly acclaimed production of Shostakovich’s The Nose singing Speculant, and Balthasar in the U.S. premiere of Schumann’s Genoveva, directed by Kaspar Bech Holten.
Mr. Martens made his Carnegie Hall debut singing Ramphis (Aida), followed by Alvaro (Verdi’s Alzira), both with New York Grand Opera. He then returned to Carnegie Hall as Soothsayer with American Composers Orchestra in the highly-anticipated return of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra.
Seiji Ozawa selected Andrew to play Swallow at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Peter Grimes at Tanglewood. Mr. Martens created the roles of Priesteris in the world premiere of Ilona Brege’s Dzivais Udens, Andrievs (Andrejs Jansons’ Laimes Reiboni) in Riga, Latvia, and Kieran Stillwell (Hilarie Clark Moore’s Fishergirl). Also with the Latvian community, he has given recitals in New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Latvia.