Estibaliz Martyn: Spanish opera queen charms China

Spanish opera singer Estibaliz Martyn has taken China by storm, recording and performing songs in Mandarin.‌ Multi-lingual and multi-talented, Martyn is using her unique ability to promote mutual cultural understanding between Spain, Europe and China.

‌Martyn, who is an opera singer, model, actor, and pianist, is a star is on the rise.‌ She sings in seven languages, including Chinese, which she recently added to her repertoire.‌ She's performed with Placido Domingo - another famous Spanish opera singer - and concerts, films, and musicals from New York to Nanjing.

‌CGTN Europe met Martyn at Madrid's storied Teatro Real, or Royal Theatre, where she is already a well-known face. Now, China is discovering her talents too. "I believe that music is the universal language because it reaches the soul and excites," she tells CGTN. "I'm a lover of different arts, but music really reaches us, you know?

"Music has the power to unite us"

‌"Music has a unique ability to connect with our emotions and the power to unite people. One of the first unforgettable contacts I had with China and its music was just a year ago," she continues. 

"On the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain, I sang as soprano soloist at the National Music Auditorium in Madrid with the Chinese Traditional Orchestra in front of the China Minister for culture and tourism, Hu Heping.”

‌Since then Martyn has toured and played in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao, Beijing and beyond. She even came first on a China-based international singing contest held in 33 countries, and is currently preparing expanded tour dates across China in 2024.

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‌Spanish-based businesswoman Margaret Chen met Martyn just over a year ago and has since played a pivotal role in her journey.‌ "The first time I met her was at an event where she sang - I was totally shocked and impacted by her voice, by her beauty," Chen says.

‌"So after knowing that she has been singing in seven languages, I said: 'Why not Chinese?!' "First she sang a song and sent it to me, then she entered in a singing contest and rated first, last year we and now she's ready to tour again.

‌"Chinese people love her voice"

‌"Chinese people love her voice, her voice is so beautiful, and generally she's just such a beautiful girl, I think she's just, people adore her."

‌With an exciting year ahead, the sky is the limit for Spain's superstar soprano, who's charming China and uniting cultures.

"My next trip to China is, likely, in the month of March," Martyn says. "I have tours and concerts coming up in Europe, the United Arab Emirates and China. Returning to China makes me especially excited because it's an audience that is getting to know me and my music better all the time, an audience that shows a lot of love, that values music, that values art, that fills concert halls"

‌"I am going to return to a wonderful country to continue learning and discovering new horizons, cities, new corners, new experiences, and a new world to discover. It will be through a tour of different cities and I have to say that every time I return to China I discover the future developments."

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