Season High Note

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Camerata

Pacifica caps its season with the U.S. debut of Venezuelan male soprano Samuel Mariño

Hailed as “a rarity in opera” by The New York Times, Mariño, 30, describes himself as a true male soprano whose voice at puberty only “partially broke.” He is not a countertenor and doesn’t sing in falsetto, he says: “My voice is a light lyric soprano with a bit of coloratura.” Mariño studied at the Paris Conservatory and with soprano Barbara Bonney. His first operatic experience was with Camerata Barroca in Caracas, where he worked with conductors including Gustavo Dudamel and Helmuth Rilling. Decca released his most recent recording, Sopranista, in 2022. Mariño will be soloist in Bach’s cantata Non sa che sia dolore and Pergolesi’s Salve Regina at concerts May 16 at the Huntington and May 18 at Colburn School’s Zipper Concert Hall; the programs also include John Adams’ Shaker Loops The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 626.405.2100; Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.621.4521. cameratapacifica.org