MARTINS SMAUKSTELIS TENOR

REVIEWS

Mozart's La nozze di Figaro

Seen and Heard International, Mark Berry

As Cherubino, Esme Bronwen-Smith captivated th[r]ough force of personality and similar attention to detail. Martins Smaukstelis did likewise as Basilio, an intriguingly chameleon-like portrayal, boasting notable ease in Italian as well as a finely expressive face. The very different, more diffident impression presented by his Don Curzio confirmed the individuality of portrayal.

Cavalli's L'Egisto

Seen and Heard international, Mark Berry

To make it so, of course, requires not only sensitive continuo realisation but also sensitive — and dramatic — vocal artistry. Here a number of singers excelled, showing considerable stage gifts too. Martins Smaukstelis was first among equals as Egisto, wounded, external heroism and inward anguish expressed by all manner of subtle gradations.

Rimsky-Korsakovs May Night

Planethugill

The Act Two scene with Murphy's Headman, Martins Smaukstelis's Distiller, Claire Barnett-Jones's sister-in-law and Henry Neill's clerk was a complete comic delight. One long sustained sequence where the four singers each created a strong sense of comedy, both aural and visual from Smaukstelis's supercilious man of the world (complete with pipe), through Barnett-Jones's completely over the top femme-fatale act to Neill's precise pomposity.

Bachtrack

Both Martins Smaukstelis as the Distiller and Henry Neill as the Clerk despatched their roles with aplomb.

BIOGRAPHY

Martins Smaukstelis is a Latvian born tenor who completed his Master of Arts degree at the Royal Academy of Music with Neil Mackie and Jonathan Papp. He was awarded a full entrance scholarship, which was made possible by the Leverhulme Trust Postgraduate Scholarship.

He had the opportunity to sing in public masterclasses with Dennis O’Neill at the Academy and Roger Vignoles at the Leeds Lieder Festival as well as David Butt Philip and Della Jones.

Martins recently debuted as Prince in Dvorak's Rusalka with New Opera Singapore where he previously appeared as Lucano in L’incoronazione di Poppea as well as Spoletta in Tosca (Devon Opera). He has performed as Adrian in Hopes and Fears with music by Debussy (The Opera Makers), Basilio and Don Curzio in La Nozze di Figaro, Schoolmaster in Cunning Little Vixen as well as the title role in Cavalli’s L’Egisto (HGO). He has also sang the role of Distiller in Rimsky-Korsakovs May Night (RAO), Prince Charming in multiple adaptations of Cinderella (St Paul's Opera and Merry Opera) as well as a fully staged Messiah (Merry Opera) and the role of Heinrich in concert performance of Ethel Smyth’s Der Wald.

Martins also has sung with Glyndebourne Festival, Garsington, Wexford and The Grange Festival operas among others and has a busy concert life appearing in concerts and oratorio performances all around the UK.

Past performances include Mozart’s Requiem at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Mozart’s Coronation mass with the Buckingham Choral Society.

Martins is also generously supported by the Josephine Baker Trust, Drake Calleja Trust and Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

EVENTS

Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin - Lensky

Hampstead Garden Opera
8th - 17th November, 2024

Puccini's La Boheme - Radolfo (Ralph)

The Opera Makers at Grimeborn Festival
20th - 24th August, 2024

Verdi's Rigoletto - Duke of Mantua

New Opera Singapore
16th - 18th August, 2024

Mozart's Die Zauberflöte - Tamino

Nevill Holt Festival
1st - 9th June, 2024

The March of Progress

The Opera Makers
7th March, 2024

Opera and song recital with Panaretos Kyriatzidis

Woolwich Opera Works
15th October, 2023

Rachmaninov’s Vespers - Tenor soloist

Vasari Singers
14th October, 2023

Verdi's Tosca - Spoletta

Devon Opera
26th, 28th, 30th September, 2023

East Wind concert - Singing Chinese History

Musicians in the UK
9th September, 2023

Dvorak’s Rusalka - Prince

New Opera Singapore
19th and 20th August, 2023

Double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci - chorus

West Green Opera
29th July - 30th July, 2023

Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades and Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte - chorus and cover Ferrando

The Grange Festival, Northington
8th June - 2nd July, 2023

Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise Haydn Paukenmesse - Tenor soloist

Shopwyke Singers
21st May, 2023

Fully staged Handel's Messiah - tenor

1st April - 5th May, 2023

Ethel Smyth’s Der Wald - Heinrich

Holy Sepulchre Church - Holborn Viaduct, London
10th March, 2023

Cinderella - Prince Charming

4th February - 12th March, 2023

L.Janacek’sThe Cunning Little Vixen - Schoolmaster/Mosquito

Jackson Lane Theatre, London
4th - 13th November, 2022

Uncovered Opera Gala Concert

The Space, London
30th October, 2022

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor

Chester Cathedral
1st October, 2022

Wigmore hall/Bollinger International Song Competition

Wigmore hall, London
2nd - 7th September, 2022

Of Life and Love, HGO Summer Opera Concert

St. Michael’s Church, Highgate, London
23rd July, 2022

G.Verdi's Macbeth and G&S Yeomen of the guard with The Grange Festival

The Grange Festival, Northington
9th June, 2022 - 8th July, 2022

P.Viardot's Cendrillon with St. Paul's Opera – Prince

St. Paul's Church, London
9th, 11th, December, 2021

Winter soirée – tenor soloist

1901 Arts club, London
7th, December, 2021

W.A.Mozart's Marriage of Figaro with HGO – Basilio, Don Curzio

Jackson Lane Theatre, London
5th - 13th, November, 2021

C. Debussy's music in a new setting and arrangement for Grimeborn Festival 2021 with The Opera Makers – Hopes and Fears – Adrian

Arcola Theatre Outside, London
1st - 4th, September, 2021

F. CAVALLI L'EGISTO WITH HGO - EGISTO

Cockpit Theatre, London
5th, 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th June, 2021

J.Lūsēns song cycle Kā maigi dzelošs rožu krūms with women choir Sapnis and chamber orchestra

Latvian National Library, Ziedoņa zāle, Latvia
11th November, 2018

Medea L. Cherubini and Margherita by J. Foroni

Wexford Festival Opera, Ireland
19th October - 5th November, 2017

Recital with soprano Victoria Songwei Li

Esplanade Recital Studio, Singapore
14th August, 2017

L'incoronazione di Poppea by C. Monteverdi - Soldier 1, Lucano, Littoree

New Opera, Singapore
29th, 30th July, 2017

Solo recital, piano - Julia Sinani

Rudolf Steiner House, London
1st June, 2017

Royal Academy of Music Opera Scenes: Donizetti - Lelisir d'amore, Nemorino

23th April, 2017

Leeds Lieder Festival masterclass with Roger Vignoles

Rudolf Steiner House, London
9th, 10th March, 2017

Performance at the Latvian Embassy in London, piano - Ieva Caune

Latvian Embassy, London
9th February, 2017

Solo recital at Catthorpe Manor (Straumeni), piano - Julia Sinani

Catthorpe Manor, London
7th February, 2017

Celebration of Latvian National Day

Westminster Cathedral Hall, London
19th November, 2016

The Cunning Little Vixen by L. Janacek

Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
June, July, 2016

Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg by R. Wagner

Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
May, June, 2016

Shakespeare 400 Anniversary gala concert with Glyndebourne chorus and London Philharmonic Orchestra

Royal Festival Hall, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London
23th April, 2016

May night by N.Rimsky-Korsakov with Royal Academy Opera – Distiller

P3 University of Westminster 35-100 Marylebone Rd, London
8th, 11th March, 2016

Solo parts for W.A.Mozart Requiem and Coronation mass with Juliann Mann and Buckingham Choral Society

Buckingham Parish Church London
5th December, 2015

Solo parts for W.A.Mozart Requiem with Chris Walker

Benson Choral Society at Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
28th November, 2015

Royal Academy of Music Vocal Faculty Opera Scenes: Puccini La Rondine Act I - Prunier

St. James's Church, Sussex Gardens, London
19th, 20th November, 2015

XI Latvijas skolu jaunatnes dziesmu un deju svetku pieminas koncerts (XI Latvian youth song and dance festival, memorial concert)

Riga, Latvia
6th July, 2015

Poliuto by Donizetti

Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
May, June, July 2015

Carmen by Bizet

Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
May, June, July, 2015

Solo parts for W.A.Mozart Requiem with Ealing Common Choir

St Matthew's Church
29th March, 2015

Solo parts for W.A.Mozart Requiem with Joyful Company of Singers

St Martin in the Fields
27th March, 2015

Solo parts for W.A.Mozart Requiem with Cranford Choral Society

St Mary's Church, Cholsey
21st March, 2015

Choral concert, to include F.Schubert Mass in G and W.A.Mozart's Dixit Et Magnificat KV193

St Thomas' Church, Lymington, Hampshire
6th December, 2014

Young Baltic Talent concert in Royal Academy of Music. To include pieces by A.Žilinskis, E.Dārziņš and A.Kalniņš

St Thomas' Church, Lymington, Hampshire
9th November, 2014

Recital together with Monta Martinsone (soprano) and Goda Stanionyte (piano)

St Peters Church, Riga, Latvia
26th July, 2014

Fidelio by L. Van Beethoven

Garsington Opera, Wormsley
June, July, 2014

Vert-Vert by J.Offenbach

Garsington Opera, Wormsley
June, July, 2014

Latvian composer recital with pianist Ieva Caune

Holywell Music Room, Oxford
17th May, 2014

Ariodante by G.F.Handel with Royal Academy Opera

Sir Jack Lyons Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London
March, 2014

Messiah by G.F.Handel with South Hampton High School

St Peters Church, London
December, 2013

Young Baltic Talent Concert

Royal Academy of Music, London
December, 2013

MEDIA