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Samuel Mariño

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Samuel Mariño
Samuel Mariño at solo recital in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles, 2023
Born (1993-11-26) 26 November 1993 (age 31)
Caracas, Venezuela
Occupation(s)Opera singer (male soprano) and recitalist
Websitewww.samuelmarino.com

Samuel Mariño (born 26 November 1993) is a Venezuelan-born male soprano opera singer and recitalist.

Early life

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Samuel Mariño was born in Caracas, Venezuela, into a family of university professor parents and two siblings.[1] Initially training as a ballet dancer at the Venezuelan National School of Dance and studying piano at the National Conservatory in Caracas, Mariño did not begin formal vocal training until his late teens. During puberty, Mariño’s voice did not undergo a typical mutation and retained the high pitch characteristic of prepubescent voice. As a gay teenager with an unusually high voice, he was subject to frequent bullying. Mariño and his family even sought medical advice about lowering his voice through surgery and therapy. He was persuaded to keep his natural soprano and to pursue vocal training and operatic career.[2]

Education and career

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Mariño commenced formal vocal study at the National Conservatory in Caracas. His first operatic experience was with Camerata Barroca in Caracas, where he had the opportunity to work with Gustavo Dudamel, Helmuth Rilling, and Theodore Kuchar.[3] Encouraged by his teachers to continue his studies in Europe, Mariño raised funds for his move by making and selling lemon pies with his mother.[2]

When he was 18,[1] Mariño moved to France to continue his vocal studies at the Conservatoire de Paris.[3] A decisive role in Mariño's career was played by American soprano Barbara Bonney who became a crucial teacher and mentor guiding Mariño to embrace and develop his natural soprano voice.[2] In 2017, he received the Interpretation Award at the Opéra de Marseille International Singing Competition and won the Neue Stimmen Audience Prize.[3]

Mariño’s debut solo album titled Care Pupille was released on Orfeo in 2020 and featured a collection of rarely recorded works by Handel, Gluck, Cimarosa and Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Following two collaboration recordings with the Chateau de Versailles Spectacles label released in 2021, Mariño was signed by Decca Classics.[4] Sopranista, his debut album with Decca, was released in 2022 and nominated for Opus Classik award in the Young Talent of the Year and the Singing (Opera) categories.[5][6] The label announced that the singer's new album, Lumina, will be released on 25 July 2025.[7]

Mariño has been widely sought as a recitalist and soloist. In September of 2022, he made his Australian debut with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, returning for a second tour of performances in Sydney and Melbourne in February of 2025, to much anticipation and critical acclaim.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In February 2023, the singer was part of the first-ever South Korean tour of the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra.[15] In April of 2023, Mariño made his Argentinian debut at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the Gabetta Consort.[16] Later that month, he made his Canadian debut with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and returned to Toronto again for a series of concerts at Koerner Hall in May of 2025.[17][18][19][20] His United States debut was in May of 2023 with the Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.[21][22]

Other notable recent performances included a London debut recital at St Martin-in-the-Fields,[23] Japanese debut in Kyoto in a series of gala concerts for Cartier,[24] a program of virtuoso concert arias for soprano voice by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven with the Capella Cracoviensis in Krakow, Poland,[25] and a solo recital at the Versailles's Galerie des Glaces featuring arias of Handel, Gluck, Cimarosa, Mozart and Bologne.[26]

In the summer of 2023, Mariño made his United Kingdom operatic debut in Glyndebourne Festival's first-ever production of Handel's Semele with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.[27] A year later, he created the role of Zambinella, a star of the Roman opera stage, in the new opera pastiche Sarrasine based on the eponymous novella by Honoré de Balzac and featuring the never performed opera music by Handel.[28][29] In previous years, Mariño's opera roles included Postumio in Graun's Silla, Angelo in Handel's La resurrezione, Demetrio in Gluck's Antigono, Curazio in Cimarosa's Gli Orazi e i Curiazi, Alessandro in Handel's Berenice, Tamiri in Angesi's Il re pastore, the title role in Handel's Teseo and a star turn in the Krystian Lada's queer thriller opera pasticcio Mysteries of Desire. Other engagements included recitals at Bayreuth, Gluck, Handel, Styriarte and Świdnica festivals.[30][31][32][33][34]

Mariño has been noted for the gender-defying character of his voice, repertoire, and image. In many of his interviews, Mariño said that his unique vocal gift, combined with several distinguishing aspects of his identity, background, and life experience, motivate him to challenge the conventions and boundaries of the opera world and to invite and encourage underrepresented audiences and singers.[2][35][36][37][38][39][excessive citations]

Discography

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  • Care Pupille: Handel, Gluck, Samuel Mariño, male soprano, with Händelfestspielorchester Halle directed by Michael Hofstetter, released by Orfeo label (2020)[40]
  • Pergolèse, Vivaldi: Stabat Mater pour deux castrats, Samuel Mariño, soprano, Filippo Mineccia, alto, with Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal directed by Marie van Rhijn, released by Château de Versailles Spectacles label (2021)[41]
  • Les 3 Contre-Ténors: Le Concours de Virtuosité des Castrats, Samuel Mariño, Filippo Mineccia, Valer Sabadus, Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal directed by Stefan Plewniak, released by Château de Versailles Spectacles label (2021)[42]
  • Sopranista, Samuel Mariño, sopranista, with La Cetra Barockorchester directed by Andrea Marcon, released by Decca label (2022)[43]
  • Carl Heinrich Graun: Silla (role of Postumio) with Bejun Mehta, Valer Sabadus, Hagen Matzeit, Eleonora Bellocci, Roberta Invernizzi, Mert Sungu, Coro Maghini, Innsbrucker Festwochenorchester directed by Alessandro de Marchi, released by CPO label (2023)[44]
  • Yánez: Viajera del río (Arr. Assad for Voice and Guitar) - Single, Samuel Mariño, Plínio Fernandes, released by Decca Classics label (2023)[45]

References

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  1. ^ a b Burke, Kelly (14 February 2025). "The opera singer with one of the rarest voices in the world: 'Being on stage is not easy'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Marcus, J. S. (27 May 2022). "'I Would Love to Sing Lucia': A Male Soprano Comes into His Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Samuel Mariño: Biography". Decca Classics. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Extravagantly Talented - Male Soprano Samuel Mariño Signs with Decca Classics". Decca Classics. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Classical recordings - Search: Samuel Marino". Presto Music. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Nominees". Opus Klassik. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Decca Classics announces 'Lumina', the new album from male soprano Samuel Mariño". Decca Classics. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  8. ^ Wooten, Afton (23 June 2022). "Male Soprano Samuel Mariño to Make Australian Debut". Opera Wire. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  9. ^ Moffatt, Steve (2 September 2022). "The Soprano (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra): The audience goes crackers for the stunning male soprano from Caracas". Limelight: Music, Art and Culture. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  10. ^ O'Brien, Kerrie (9 September 2022). "'Who cares what gender I am?' Inside the extravagant world of a rare male soprano". The Age. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. ^ Cislowska, Tamara-Anna (15 September 2022). "Male Soprano Samuel Mariño". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  12. ^ Bowdler, Sandra (14 February 2025). "Samuel Mariño: high on Handel in Melbourne". Bachtrack. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  13. ^ Quinn, Elizabeth (15 February 2025). "Samuel Mariño (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra): The spell cast by Venezuelan male soprano Samuel Mariño in this Handel-heavy program can only be broken with thunderous applause". Limelight: Music, Art and Culture. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  14. ^ Mohseni, Aryan (22 February 2025). "Review: Samuel Mariño, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra". State of the Art. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Orchestre de I'Opera Royal de Versailles to hold first concert in Korea". K-VIBE. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  16. ^ Ferrarini, Laura (19 April 2023). "Ensamble Gabetta Consort, invitados: sopranista Samuel Mariño – contratenor Terry Wey – Inauguración ciclo barroco Teatro Colón". By Battaglia News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Male soprano Samuel Mariño makes Canadian debut in Higher Love: Virtuoso Arias". Tafelmusik. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  18. ^ Kaptainis, Arthur (30 April 2023). "Soprano Samuel Mariño Flies High With Tafelmusik". Ludwig Van Toronto. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  19. ^ Lee, Hye Won Cecilia (26 May 2025). "Samuel Mariño Adds To His Growing Legacy With Tafelmusik Concert". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  20. ^ Assay, Michelle (27 May 2025). "Samuel Mariño Caps Tafelmusik Season with Sheer Joy". La Scena Musicale. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Samuel Mariño". HarrisonParrott. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  22. ^ Byrd, Craig (11 May 2023). "Samuel Mariño Pushes Boundaries". Cultural Attaché. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Samuel Mariño in recital (London debut) at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London on Friday 22nd April 2022". Classical Events. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Samuel Mariño: Home". Decca Classics. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  25. ^ "OR 22 World Opera Day". Capella Cracoviensis. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Récital Samuel Mariño : Sopranista at the Château de Versailles Spectacles". Château de Versailles Spectacles. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  27. ^ Kenyon, Nicholas (24 July 2023). "Semele, Glyndebourne, review: Handel's English masterpiece gets a radical makeover". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Sarrasine Akt I". Händel Channel Ein Projekt von Internationale Händel-Festspiele Göttingen. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Sarrasine Akt II". Händel Channel Ein Projekt von Internationale Händel-Festspiele Göttingen. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Silla – Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik". Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Samuel Mariño". Styriarte. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  32. ^ "XXII Bach Festival Świdnica – Świdnicki Ośrodek Kultury". Świdnicki Ośrodek Kultury. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Samuel Marino". Gluck Festspiele. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Begærets mysterier". The Royal Danish Opera. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  35. ^ Ivan, Hewett (6 August 2022). "'Why don't you sing like a man?': the return of the male soprano". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  36. ^ Bailey, Michael (5 August 2022). "Samuel Marino has a unique voice – but that's not why he stands out". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Venezuelan opera singer Samuel Mariño is gifted with a soprano voice". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Samuel Mariño, soprano vénézuélien d'un nouveau genre". Le Monde (in French). 18 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Meet opera's rare male soprano". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  40. ^ "Care pupille Classical Opera Orfeo". Chandos Records. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  41. ^ "CVS033 – CD – Stabat Mater". Chateau de Versailles Spectacles. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  42. ^ "CVS050 – CD + DVD – Les 3 Contre-ténors". Chateau de Versailles Spectacles. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Samuel Mariño Releases First Album on Decca Classics 'Sopranista'". Decca Classics. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Classical recordings – Search: Samuel Marino". Presto Music. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Yánez: Viajera del río (Arr. Assad for Voice and Guitar) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
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