‘This album is unique in every respect. It includes first recordings of works that are sensationally beautiful and that have never been heard before. And then there is a voice, a male soprano, singing for the first time in 250 years arias that no man before him has been able able to perform. I think that his voice is so well-suited and has the ability to make us hear and feel the beauty of this sound and the very special art of the 18th century.’ - Michael Hofstetter, conductor ‘Gluck and Händel, these are my two masters. They are such important composers to me, and they even performed together in London. It’s a wonderful idea to present again this programme.’ - Samuel Mariño, male soprano Samuel Mariño has already appeared as soloist on European stages. In 2017/18, he won the interpretation award at the Opéra de Marseille International Singing Competition and the audience prize at the Neue Stimmen competition in Gütersloh. In 2018, he made his opera debut at the Handel Festival in Halle in the opera Berenice, singing the role of Alessandro. His sensational performance led to several nominations for Best New Artist by the Magazine Opernwelt. He will also appear in the Händel Festspiele 2020 as Teseo in the opera of the same name.