Samuel Mariño: Star of the Baroque stage and…of Instagram!

A star on Instagram (and on the Baroque stage!) with over 180,000 followers, male soprano Samuel Mariño isn’t just known for his eccentric fashion sense. First and foremost, he is one of today’s most exciting young singers.

The singer readily admits that Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga are his idols. He looked at their shows where fashion made a statement, and wondered why opera couldn’t use fashion like a pop star. As a result, he’s on the road with a minimum of four bulging suitcases stuffed with glitz, glitter, showy vintage jewellery and very tall high heels. Mariño appears on stage sporting gender-defying costumes ranging from tulle to leather, and his concerts are marked by at least two or three costume changes. In other words, the singer is intent on creating spectacle. For the eyepopping album cover for Sopranista, he wore an extravagant Vivienne Westwood caped pant suit and platform heels. Without a doubt the singer is clearly the pop star of opera, having amassed almost 180 000 devoted followers on his Instagram account. “I think how you dress sends a political message. When I stand in front of an audience in those clothes, I feel a sense of power but also a sense of fear because there is no security, and the political situation we are experiencing in the world does not help. But as I always say: no risk no fun!” And let us not forget the most necessary part of his entourage, namely, Leia, his beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is Mariño’s most faithful travelling companion.

“My voice is my personality”

The singer will be performing with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in Toronto, (May 23 to 25), his only North American appearance. This is the singer’s second time with the orchestra. Apparently his first concert was such a sensation that Tafelmusik immediately made plans to bring him back. Clearly Mariño is a dazzling talent. When people describe his voice, they use words like agile, focused, bright, crystal pure, versatile, and the very important—times soft and delicate, yet capable of tossing off a series of dizzying notes with incredible speed and accuracy. Music writers often cite his tremendous control, breathtaking soprano range, formidable coloratura, and extraordinary technical prowess. Mariño describes himself as a light lyric soprano which, in a way, denies the power he can pour out when needed. He is also on record as saying that a singer must develop a unique voice, or there will be no career if you sound like everyone else. “My voice is my personality”, he declares.

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