Samuel Mariño

Male Soprano

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“Samuel Mariño’s expressive male soprano, an instrument of rare beauty applied with sensitivity and virtuosity.”
(Stephen Pettitt, The Sunday Times, March 2021)

Samuel Mariño’s unique vocal talent and glittering stage presence have already earned him a stellar reputation and allowed him to explore both baroque and classical repertoire much to the delight of his audiences around the world.

This season, Mariño makes anticipated returns to Australia and Canada, presenting a new programme with Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – ‘Desperate Heroines’ — featuring Cleopatra, Rodelinda and Alcina arias, and reuniting with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in Toronto. He also makes his first appearances with Symphony Nova Scotia. In Europe, Mariño reunites with Concerto de Cavalieri on tour, with Gabetta Consort for performances of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and his programme – ‘Delirio’ – and he reprises the role of Oberto (Alcina) with ensemble Les Épopées under Stephen Fuget. He joins Thüringen Philharmonie for a programme of Mozart arias and Beethoven’s Ah! Perfido, and Heidelburg Sinfoniker in special New Year concerts, both under Michael Hofstetter, and with long time collaborators. L’Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal de Versailles gives performances in Paris and on tour in China. He returns to Konzerthaus Berlin showcasing Königin der Nacht arias and he makes his role and house debuts at Theater Dortmund as Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro).

Standout debuts have dominated recent seasons including Mariño’s first appearances in North America with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and with Camerata Pacifica in LA and Santa Barbara; with Australian Brandenburg Orchestra conducted by Paul Dyer, and closer to home at Konzerthaus Berlin with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under Keri-Lynn Wilson for the benefit opera gala, ‘Rebuild Ukraine’. He also presented a programme of Mozart, Gluck and lesser known Cimarosa and Bologne arias at Den Norske Opera, returning last season as part of the Norway Pride 50^th Anniversary Concert which was televised via NRK1. Recent operatic roles include Zambinella in a new Handel opera pastiche, Sarrasine (based on the Balzac novel of the same name) at the Handel Festival in Göttingen, and his UK opera debut as Iris in Glyndebourne Festival’s first ever production of Handel’s Semele with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Václav Luks.

In recital, Mariño appeared with Pro Arte Musical at the Pablo Casals Symphony Hall in Puerto Rico, joined by pianist Jonathan Ware last season, and a burgeoning discography includes his first album on the Decca label, Sopranista! (nominated in two Opus Klassik awards in 2023) alongside Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal released on the Versailles Spectacles label and his debut solo album Care pupille — a collection of rarities by Handel and Gluck with Handelfestspielorchester Halle – released on Orfeo. His latest single, Viajera del río, with guitarist Plínio Fernandes was released in November 2023 (Decca).

Mariño originally trained as a ballet dancer at the Venezuelan National School of Dance, before beginning his musical studies in piano and voice at the National Conservatory of Music. In 2017, he was awarded the Interpretation Award at the Opéra de Marseille International Singing Competition and won the Neue Stimmen Audience prize. He is currently closely mentored by the renowned soprano Barbara Bonney and is the recipient of a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Salzburg. Mariño founded Ensemble Teseo in 2019, aiming to bring forgotten Baroque works and techniques into the mainstream.

Gallery

G.B. Pergolesi : Stabat Mater, VI. Vidit suum dulcem natum, Samuel Mariño © Samuel Mariño

Care Pupille - Samuel Mariño © Samuel Mariño

“Samuel Marino’s silvery colour perfectly characterised Postumio, the pure, uncorrupted hero.”

Opera magazine, July 2023

“Samuel Mariño shines as the youthful lover Postumio with almost angelic highs that have an incredible clarity, but also underline the impetuous character of the character.”

Online Musik Magazin, August 2022

“he has a voice of great natural beauty and a phenomenal technique.
…that voice allows him to throw off the most demanding coloratura writing with ease, but equally to sing mezza voce cantabile not just in his comfort zone but also at the upper end of his range.”

(Opera Magazine, March 2021)

“Mariño masters the glittering coloratura and intermittent leaps in Handel’s bravura arias with sovereignty and an audible pleasure in the presentation.”

(Klassik.com, August 2020)

“The combination of technical perfection with a stupendous breath control allows the Venezuelan to interpret himself passionately and uninhibitedly”

(Pizzicato.lu, August 2020)

“Mariño sails through them with apparent ease, soaring to a melodious top C. His coloratura is precise and the trills, tight and attacked with immediacy.”

(Rheingold, July 2020)