Apr 28 at 8pm & Apr 29 at 2pm
“Quite simply the most extravagantly talented male soprano I have yet heard.” — Opera
March 15, 2023 … Tafelmusik is thrilled to welcome male soprano Samuel Mariño to Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre for what promises to be a highlight of the Toronto concert season: Higher Love: Virtuoso Arias, April 28 at 8pm and April 29 at 2pm. Following debuts at major European opera houses and with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, 29-year-old Mariño is making a name for himself with his remarkable range, astonishing vocal technique, and electrifying stage presence. In the days leading up to Higher Love, audiences are invited to participate in an online Tafel Talk about male sopranos on April 12, and an open rehearsal on April 27 (details below). Concert tickets and program information are available at tafelmusik.org.
Considered the world’s rarest voice type, the male soprano sound defies rigid categorization while delighting and astonishing listeners. Higher Love offers the perfect showcase for Mariño’s powerful and agile soprano voice, which is capable of reaching stratospheric heights “with fluttering agility and a melodic line like thin silk thread” (Sydney Morning Herald).
“My goal is to open up classical music and really bring it to everyone,” says Samuel Mariño. “Regardless of whether someone feels like a man, a woman, or non-binary, I want people to make music. When I wear a dress and make-up on stage, I do it because I love fashion and it’s ‘a statement.’ I am not against tradition, I really like some traditions, but let’s make traditions accessible to everyone.”
Mariño joins the orchestra for virtuoso baroque opera arias from Handel’s Arminio and Atalanta, Vivaldi’s Il Giustino, Scarlatti’s Il Sedecia Re di Gerusalemme, and Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. Balancing the program are orchestral selections by Handel, Pisendel, and Vivaldi, including the composer’s Concerto in E Minor featuring Tafelmusik’s own Keiran Campbell as cello soloist.
As both Higher Love concerts are almost sold out, Tafelmusik is pleased to open a rehearsal to the public on Thursday, April 27, 11am—2pm at Jeanne Lamon Hall. Open rehearsal tickets are $5.00 (general admission) and are available at tafelmusik.org.
Audiences can discover more about uncommon male voice types through our Tafel Talk:
The Sopranos, Princes of the Opera World on Wednesday, April 12, 7pm ET online. Our conversation examines the unique timbres of countertenors and male sopranos, while exploring what these voices tell us about the full range of human expression. Moderated by Matthew White, CEO, Victoria Symphony, with Michael Maniaci, American male soprano; Krisztina Szabó, Canadianmezzo-soprano, and Darryl Taylor, American countertenor. Tafel Talks are presented live online via Zoom webinar and tickets are $5.00, available at tafelmusik.org.
LISTING INFORMATION:
Higher Love: Virtuoso Arias
with Samuel Mariño, male soprano
Apr 28 at 8pm and Apr 29 at 2pm Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s CentreTickets start at $25 and are available at tafelmusik.org
Open Rehearsal with Samuel Mariño and Tafelmusik
Thursday, April 27, 11am—2pm
Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
General admission tickets are $5, available at tafelmusik.org
Tafel Talks
The Sopranos, Princes of the Opera World
Wednesday, April 12, 7pm ET online
Moderator: Matthew White, CEO, Victoria Symphony (Victoria, BC)
with Michael Maniaci (Orlando, FL); Krisztina Szabó (Vancouver, BC); and
Darryl Taylor (Irvine, CA)
A conversation about men who hit the high notes: countertenors and sopranos. We’ll discuss the unique timbres of these voices and what they tell us about the full range of human expression.
Tickets are $5.00 and are available at tafelmusik.org. Tafelmusik Subscribers and Digital Series Passholders join free of charge. This event will be held live on Zoom Webinar and includes an audience Q&A. Tafel Talks are available for rewatch for up to 48 hours. Tafel Talks are lively online conversations exploring the many intersections between baroque music and our world today.
Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2022/23 concert season. We are also grateful to our government partners, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and to our Media Partner The New Classical 96.3 FM.
ABOUT SAMUEL MARIŇO
Award-winning Venezuelan soprano Samuel Mariño’s natural musicality and unique vocal talent have set the stage for a career that allows him to explore a wide range of operatic roles in the baroque and classical repertoire. Recent opera highlights include Handel’s Berenice and Gluck’s Angigono at the Halle Handel Festival, Zhou Long’s Madame White Snake at Opéra Comique, and The Mysteries of Desire with Royal Danish Opera.
A burgeoning discography includes Sopranista with La Cetra, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal (Versailles), and his debut solo album Care pupille, a collection of rarities by Handel and Gluck with the Halle Handel Festival Orchestra.
Samuel studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Caracas and at the Paris Conservatory. Following his passion for rediscovering music and innovating period performance practice, Samuel founded Ensemble Teseo in 2019, with which he aims to bring forgotten baroque works and techniques to mainstream opera and concert stages.
ABOUT TAFELMUSIK
Tafelmusik is a world-renowned period orchestra and choir in the heart of Toronto.
Founded 45 years ago on the pillars of passion, learning, and artistic excellence, Tafelmusik brings a fresh perspective to historically informed performance. Played on period instruments and grounded in scholarship, 17th- to 19th- century instrumental and choral music shares the stage with exciting multimedia programs, bold new commissions, and intriguing cross-cultural collaborations. From dynamic live performances at Jeanne Lamon Hall in Toronto’s historic Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre and stunning Koerner Hall, to international tours, award-winning recordings, and inspiring education programs, Tafelmusik is a musical powerhouse with a reputation for thrilling and delighting audiences.
Tafelmusik is a Canadian charitable organization that relies on donations from the community to make our performances and education programs possible.
Website: tafelmusik.org
Join the conversation on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
Media contact: Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7