Brazilian baritone Mario Solimene was born in Sao Paulo from an Italian family and began studying privately with the Brazilian singing teacher Carlos Vial in 1996. One year later he was accepted at the Sao Paulo Municipal School of Music, continuing to work under the same tutor and completing the course with Distinction in 2002. At the same time he continued to follow parallel professional directions, graduating in Law from Sao Paulo University and briefly working as a lawyer.

Leaving Brazil for England in 2003, Mario came to Manchester to complete his training under the guidance of Patrick McGuigan, at the Royal Northern College of Music. There he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma (2004) and a Master’s Degree (2005) in Performance - again with distinction. During his time in the RNCM he was generously supported by The Vitae Foundation for two consecutive years and by the The Rose Goulding Scholarship in 2003.

Mario Solimene is a recipient of many singing awards, including The Vitae Foundation Award in 2003 and 2004, The Anne Ziegler Award in 2004, The John Cameron Prize for Lieder in 2004 and The William McLeod Johnstone Prize for Male Singers in 2005. He has also performed in public master classes held by renowned international artists, including Sir Thomas Allen, Sir John Tomlinson, Paolo Gavanelli and Ileana Cotrubas.

In Brazil he worked together with the Sao Paulo State Orchestra Ensemble and Sao Paulo Opera Theatre, participating in a series of concerts and first-ever recordings of the music of the Brazilian Colonial Period. Since then he has expanded his career to an international stage, appearing in Concerts and Operas throughout Europe, South America and Asia.

Mario Solimene has been heard in roles such as Count di Luna in Il Trovatore (Opus 1 Opera and covering for Welsh National Opera), Scarpia in Tosca (Waterford Theatre Royal and Opus 1 Opera), Falstaff in Falstaff (AIYF Opera Garden), Malatesta in Don Pasquale (Clonter Opera), Rigoletto in Rigoletto and Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera (Royal Northern College of Music).

Recent concert appearances include Bach's Christmas Oratorio with The Macao Orchestra China, conducted by Philip Pickett, Mozart’s Requiem with The Manchester Camerata and A Sea Symphony with The Nottingham Symphony Orchestra. His extensive repertoire includes the most significant works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Brahms, Elgar, Faure, Gounod, Haydn, Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Williams and Verdi.

His future engagements include the roles of Sciarrone and Scarpia (cover) in Tosca in London’s Royal Albert Hall; Belcore in L’elisir D’amore and Escamillo in Carmen for Clonter Opera; and the Father (cover) in Hansel and Gretel for Welsh National Opera.