Saturday, December 25, 2010

Randal Turner's Sings Holiday Favorites

Randal Turner: Christmas Classic

There are few singers in opera today who sing holiday music better than barihunk Randal Turner. We apologize for posting these so late, but they're certainly worth listening to throughout the holiday season.

Singing "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" HERE.The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Singing "White Christmas" HERE.

Singing "The Christmas Song" HERE.

Randal Turner

Singing "What are you doing New Year's Eve" HERE.

Singing "Let it snow" HERE.

Singing "I'll be home for Christmas" HERE.

Singing "Sleigh Ride" HERE.

Fans of Randal Turner will be able to enjoy his CD of American music which is scheduled for release in January.

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Johannes Weisser sings "Why do the Nations so furiously rage?" from Messiah

Johannes Weisser's Grieg Album





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Friday, December 24, 2010

Fröhliche Weihnachten! from Michael Leibundgut

Michael Leibundgut
Enjoy German Barihunk Michael Leibundgut singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" on this homemade vide.

Fröhliche Weihnachten!



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Holiday Greetings from Peter Mattei

Peter Mattei
(Alex di Suvero - New York Times)




Barihunk Peter Mattei sings Sven Scholander's "Heldagskvall i Timmerkojan," which translates as "Evening in the Logging Camp."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of our readers around the world.

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Thursday, December 23, 2010

David Adam Moore: Barber and Cuddler

David Adam Moore: Cuddler?
One of the hottest men in opera will soon be heating up the Pacific Northwest with his “Largo al factotum” in Rossini's "Barber of Seville" with the Seattle Opera. We've already blogged about David Adam Moore's upcoming Friday and Sunday performances, so we want you to know that on Saturday, January 8, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at McCaw Hall you can hear him sing the famous aria at a free event.

The opera company is hosting “The Barber of Seattle,” which will feature live music and a trio of competitions pitting hair stylists, barbers, and hairy participants against each other for prizes.

Real-life barbers will race against the music to give a group of bearded participants the smoothest, closest shave; hairstylists will compete to see who can give hair models the best new hairdo; and five bearded and/or mustachioed men will present their facial hair in an attempt to capture the title of “Seattle’s Best Beard.” The competition starts at 2 p.m.

Professionals who would like to show off their skills in the hairstyling or close shave competitions should contact Justina Schwartz at justina.schwartz@seattleopera.org or (206) 676-5564.


Those who would like to compete for the title of “Seattle’s Best Beard” should contact Tamara Vallejos at tamara.vallejos@seattleopera.org or (206) 676-5559.

Those who would like a free haircut or shave from one of our stylists or barbers, log in to Facebook and upload a photo that shows off your facial or head hair on Seattle Opera’s page, including a caption that answers the question, “Why do you want to attend The Barber of Seville?”

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Giorgio Caoduro Shake, Shake, Shaking His Booty to Rossini

Giorgio Caoduro: Barihunk & Dog Lover

When we get an email saying that someone found another video of Giorgio Caoduro shaking his booty, you know that we're going to be all over it. The word "another" is deliberate, as almost a year ago to the day, someone sent us this video of Caoduro shaking his stuff in Rossini's "Il signor Bruschino."

Here he is working his greatest asset again in another Rossini opera, "La Cenerentola."



For those of you who are more serious minded, here is a performance of the Italian barihunk singing "Sorge infausta una procella" from Handel's "Orlando."



Rossini continues to dominate his schedule next year with performances of "Il barbiere di Siviglia" scheduled in both Toulouse and Sydney.

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Mark Womack

Mark Womack: Conquering opera and musical theater
 
Oklahoma native Mark Womack is one of a number of barihunks who has previously been suggested to us, but somehow fell through the cracks. The versatile singer  has made his mark in both opera and musical theater. He is another of a long line of baritones who performed in Baz Luhrmann’s production of La Bohème where he sang the role of Marcello.   

Other operatic roles have included Friedrich Bhaer in “Little Women” with Syracuse Opera,  Escamillo in “Carmen” with Utah Festival Opera, Sharpless in “Madama Butterfly” with Sarasota Opera, the title role in Don Giovanni with Anchorage Opera, Count Almaviva in “Le Nozze di Figaro” with Mississippi Opera and Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette. 

His musical theater credits include Billy Bigelow in “Carousel,” Edward Rutledge in “1776,” Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls,” Captain Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” Curly in “Oklahoma” and Joseph Cable in “South Pacific.”   

In 2001 his schedule is primarily on the operatic stage, singing the Papageno in the Magic Flute, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte with Skylight Opera, Don Giovanni at the Utah Opera Festival and Germont pere at the Knoxville Opera. Unfortunately, his portrayal of Frank Chambers in “The Postman Always Rings Twice” was a victim of the Sacramento Opera being the latest company to shut its doors.


Here he is performing from the musical "1776":

 

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Mariusz Kwiecien on Czech Television

Screencaps of Mariusz Kwiecien from Polish television
Click HERE and watch a wonderful Czech feature on Mariusz Kwiecien. Even if you don't understand the language, there is plenty of wonderful singing.

The singer, affectionately known as the "Hot Pole," is in Krakow performing in "Eugene Onegin" through January 16th. He then returns to The Met for Donizetti's "Don Pasquale."

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Monday, December 20, 2010

Bantering Barihunks on Texapolitan Opera Podcast

Two Wild & Crazy Guys: Michael Mayes and Michael Todd Simpson
Two of the funniest and sexiest guys in all of opera have come together for the second podcast of the Texapolitan Opera. The podcast is the creation of Michael Mayes, who has been featured on this site with his hysterical videos. His guest Michael Todd Simpson has also been regularly featured on this site, including a popular post of him in his scivvies at the Eugene Opera.

You can hear the two talk about massage and "lady boys" in Bangkok, the taste of coconut water (funnier than it sounds), riding horses on stage and at the rodeo, Simon Keenlyside asking about speaking "Texan," MILF (look it up!) and, most importantly, going the "Full Okultich" on stage. The last bit included a discussion of caring for your willie on stage, balls, opera goers with binoculars. having a small butt, needing a fluffer and other barroom banter that you won't hear on most other opera podcasts.

Make sure to listen to the Texapolitan Opera podcast, which you can find on their website or on iTunes.

Simpson and Mayes were also wondering how Barihunks manages to get pictures in our possession so quickly for posting. The answer is that most of our pictures come from wives and boyfriends, opera staffers, fellow singers. fans and the singers themselves. Thanks to the iPhone, we often get pictures the night of a performance.

If you have pictures or barihunk tips, you can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cedric Trenton Berry's Streetwise Don Giovanni

Cedric Trenton Berry

This site is a big proponent of ensuring that opera appeals to a younger generation; that we create productions and market singers that can compete with television and movies for audiences. Although we know that purists will object to anything that doesn't look like a Met production from the 1940s, we love it when we see creative new ways to bring opera to new audiences.

We loved this video of Cedric Trenton Berry the minute it arrived in our inbox and he certainly qualifies as a barihunk. He sings a sexy version of Don Giovanni's famous Champagne Aria "Fin ch'han dal vino" on the streets of Los Angeles. The clip is from the film "Jackson" by independent filmmaker J.F. Lawton and the music is arranged and orchestrated by Frankie Blue.

Berry had real operatic street cred, as well. He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy and received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Southern California. He also received first place in the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Competition.

He has covered roles with the Los Angeles Opera, as well as sung roles with the company as a resident artist. In addition to his work with a number of orchestras and opera companies, he performed in the West Coast premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s opera “The Haroun Songbook” and played Prettyman in the world premiere of “The First Lady”, an opera based on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. 



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Saturday, December 18, 2010

Begin 2011 WIth Two Barihunks

Alex Esposito & Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

You can ring in the New Year by listening to two incredible barihunks, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo and Alex Esposito, singing Don Giovanni and Leporello respectively. The performance is from the Vienna State Opera and will be conducted by Franz Welser-Most. The performance will be broadcast on BBC Three beginning at 6 PM GMT.

In the meantime you can enjoy Alex Esposito singing "Se vuol balare" from Le Nozze di Figaro:



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Friday, December 17, 2010

Randal Turner Sings Glen Roven

(L-R) Randal Turner with Allen Perriello at his West Coast recital debut in San Francisco; Performing an aria from Ricky Ian Gordon's "The Grapes of Wrath" at the Festival Opera gala in Berkeley
Randal Turner took San Francisco by storm during his West Coast recital debut on December 6th. The Swiss-based American baritone sang and entire program of music by living American composers. In addition to Roven, the evening included works by Jake Heggie, Ricky Ian Gordon, Clint Borzoni, Julia Schwartz and a very special encore (more on that in a future post). 

The performance has been recorded and will be released in January 2011. Here is a teaser of him singing Glen Roven's beautiful song "When You Are Old."


Americans will get one last chance to hear the singer this year before he returns to Europe. He will be performing Handel's Messiah with the Indianapolis Symphony on Saturday, December 18th. 


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Mariusz Kwiecien in Krakow

Mariusz Kwiecien in Krakow
These shots of barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien are from Krakow where he is performing in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin." There are three performances left on December 19 and January 14 & 16. If you're anywhere near Poland make sure to check out his amazing portrayal.

In 2011, he's scheduled to reprise his portrayal of Malatesta in Don Pasquale at The Met, play the Count in "Le Nozze di Figaro" in Japan, repeat his definitive performance of King Roger in Madrid and return to The Met for Marcello in La Boheme. Oddly, his calendar shows no performances in Chicago, Seattle or anywhere in California.

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Tim McDevitt: Latest "Les mamelles de Tirésias" Sensation

Tim McDevitt backstage during "Les mamelles de Tirésias." What's the young lady looking at so intently?

If you were to look at which opera is most popular on Barihunks based on page views by readers it might surprise some to learn that Poulenc's "Les mamelles de Tirésias" edges out Mozart's "Don Giovanni." A good reason might be that barihunks tend to bare more in this opera than in Don Giovanni, Rape of Lucretia or Pearl Fishers. Gabriel Bermudez's nude scene remains the runaway leader in terms of page views on this site.

Perhaps only "The Fly," which we presume has seen its last performance, guarantees more skin. If "The Fly" didn't provide a good night of theater, it did provide us with the term "the Full Okulitch"for a baritone who bares all. Barihunk Michael Mayes, who is one of the most entertaining people in all of opera, says that barihunk Michael Todd Simpson coined the phrase on Maye's TexapolitanOpera.com podcast. In a subsequent episode, barihunk David Adam Moore used the term and we're pretty sure it's going to stick. Hopefully, we'll have plenty of more opportunities to use the phrase.

Tim McDevitt

Tim McDevitt didn't go the Full Okulitch in his recent performance of "Les mamelles de Tirésias"  with the Julliard Opera, but his appearance in his scivvies was enough to activate our inbox. One reader told us that the performances were free, making the four night run the "hottest" ticket in town. and the best bargain. McDevitt, who was recently featured on this site, played Le Mari, the same role that made Gabriel Bermudez an internet sensation. 

We look forward to seeing more of this talented young singer in the future.

For more information about performances at Julliard, please visit their website.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com



Thursday, December 16, 2010

Nathan Gunn Talks About His Legs (and other things)

Nathan Gunn: Insecure about his legs?

Albert Imperato's classical music blog "The Ecstatic Living Room" has 20 questions (actually 21) for barihunk Nathan Gunn. You'll learn about his favorite music, his devotion to his kids and what makes him insecure about his legs. Of course, from looking at this picture we can't find much to be insecure about it. Check out his answers HERE.

Gunn has consistently remained one of the most viewed singers on this site since its inception and for good reason.

As we've reported, Gunn will be reprising his definitive Papageno at the Metropolitan Opera from December 21-January 3. Click HERE for ticket and performance information.

You can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Paulo Szot returning to Café Carlyle

Paulo Szot returns to Café Carlyle
Popular barihunk Paulo Szot is returning to the Café Carlyle after his hugely successful and highly acclaimed run last Fall. The Tony Award-winning singer has been booked for a two-week engagement from February 1-12, which includes a Valentine’s Day show on Sunday, February 13. He will be performing with the Bob Albanese Trio.


Visit the Café Carlyle website for times and pricing. The program has not been listed yet.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Schrott & Netrebko in Russia

Schrott & Netrebko in Russia
© Neumayr
 
Barihunk Erwin Schrott joined his equally beautiful wife Anna Netrebko for a concert in her native Russia. The performance was at the Rimsky-Korsakov Theater in St. Petersburg and featured arias and duets, including Schrott singing the Catalogue Aria from "Don Giovanni."

The couple sang duets from Donizetti's L’Elisir d’Amore, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Lehar's Die lustige Witwe.
 

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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Edwin Crossley-Mercer in Ariadne at Opéra De Paris

We've been following the career of Edwin Crossley-Mercer for a few years now. We've been particularly impressed by his wonderful lieder singing, which he honed in master classes with Thomas Quastoff and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. The 28-year-old was trained as a clarinetist and sings with the beauty of line and tone of a wind player.

Although we admire him for his song recitals, we were thrilled to see him on the roster at the Opéra De Paris singing Harlequin in Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos." (By the way, you don't want to miss Jane Archibald singing Zerbinetta). Performances begin tonight and run through the end of the month. You can watch a highlight video on their website.

Although opera is creeping onto his schedule, Crossley-Mercer still has plenty of lieder on his schedule. He has performed critically acclaimed renditions of Schubert's Winterreise at Bayreuth and at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, prompting one reviewer to call it the definitive portrayal of our time.

You can hear him perform "Auf dem Flusse" from Winterreise by clicking HERE and Frühlingstraum by clicking HERE.  There are also a number of clips on YouTube, including this rendition of Taüschung.

Schubert singing doesn't get much better than this.

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Three More Messiahs

Michael Adair singing Handel in Germany

Michael Adair will be performing Handel's Messiah at the Evangelische Kirschengemeinde Erndtebruck with the Kantorei Siegen on December 18th. Ticket and performance information is on their website.

Paul Max Tipton coming to Carnegie Hall

Paul Max Tipton will join the Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on December 19th for the holiday favorite Visit the Carnegie Hall website for tickets and information. Tyler Duncan, who just received rave reviews in San Francisco performing the piece with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, performs the following night with the Oratorio Society of New York and again the next two nights with the Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra.

Tyler Duncan singing Messiah with three orchestras
Keep sending us your Messiah listings, as well as other tips, to Barihunks@gmail.com. We love hearing from you.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Enjoy Luca Pisaroni for Christmas from Anywhere

Luca Pisaroni and Kate Royal in Don Giovanni

Can you imagine a better way to spend the holiday than to have Luca Pisaroni singing in your ear?

Fans of the Italian barihunk can listen to his Leporello opposite the Don Giovanni of Gerald Finley on Christmas Eve. The broadcast will be on the BBC Two on Christmas Eve at 2.45 pm GMT.  If you're busy with family or church, the broadcast will be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer afterwards for a limited period of time.

In addition to Pisaroni and Finley, the cast includes Kate Royal as Donna Elvira and Anna Samuil as Donna Anna.

You can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com. Keep sending us those Messiah listings. 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Daniel Okulitch in Phoenix Symphony Messiah

Daniel Okulitch in Dead Man Walking
Word has it that barihunk David Adam Moore has coined the phrase the "Full Okulitch" to refer to a male opera singer who performs in the nude. Of course, Okulitch revealed everything in the opera "The Fly" at the Los Angeles Opera and became an overnight sensation. Although not always going the "Full Okulitch," the Canadian baritone has shown more skin than most singers in opera, including roles in "Le Nozze di Figaro" in Dallas, "Don Giovanni" at New York City Opera and"Dead Man Walking" at the Ft. Worth Opera.

In his next performance, he'll be fully clothed in a tux singing Handel's Messiah with the Phoenix Symphony on December 18 and 19. The Phoenix Symphony is another unfortunate example of an arts organization that doesn't list its vocal soloists, so you would never know that a singer of Okulitch's stature is performing with them. Both performances are sold out, but you can periodically check for availability at the Phoenix Symphony website.

Daniel Okulitch

Okulitch's schedule in 2011 will include the title role in "Don Giovanni" with the Opera Theater of St. Louis and Abdul in Menotti's "The Last Savage" with the Santa Fe Opera.

You can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com. Don't forget to send us your Messiah listings.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Keith Miller Maximizing Social Media

Kieth Miller's website
Popular barihunk is a prime example of a singer using social media to promote his career. Like Mariusz Kwiecien, whose incredible new website we recently featured, Miller has a new site with schedules, photos, features and multimedia.

One can't help but imagine how different opera would be if Caruso, Callas or Bjoerling had access to social media. It also would have exposed opera singers who never became famous worldwide like Flabiano Labo and Magda Olivero to new audiences. Of course, this is what is happening today, as Keith Miller's 552 Facebook friends come from all over the planet, creating an instant global fan base.

The success of Miller and Kwiecien's website certainly makes one wonder why a singer like Teddy Tahu Rhodes has avoided social media, even on YouTube.

Miller not only can be followed on his website but you can follow him on Twitter where you can only get his thoughts on opera, but his feelings about college football, which he played at the University of Colorado.

Miller is also on Facebook where there are additional photos and some interaction with fans.

Of course our only disappointment with both the Kwiecien and Miller sites is that there is no link to Barihunks.

Barihunks Keith Miller & Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sebastian Geyer in Dido

Sebastian Geyer in Dido & Aeneas

The leads for new barihunks keep coming in from Germany and we're grateful for it, as it has introduced us to some amazing new talent. The latest is Sebastian Geyer who just created a sensation as Aeneas in Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" at the Frankfurt Opera, which was being shown on a double bill with Bartok's "Bluebeard's Castle." The German press hailed Geyer's performance as a "perfect portrayal." You can read a review in the Frankfurt Allgemeiner.

Sebastian Geyer as Papageno

Geyer has been regularly cast in Mozart's "Big 3" as Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflote, as well as roles in Don Giovanni.  In addition to his performances in Frankfurt, his career has centered around the German cities of Heidelberg, Mannheim and Stuttgart. He has also established himself as a concert performer and sings lieder ranging from Schubert to Wolfgang Rihm.

Geyer is next scheduled to appear in Wagner's rarely performed opera Die Feen in May 2011 at the Oper Frankfurt. 

Our best posts come from our readers, so send us your comments, suggestions and Messiah listings to Barihunks@gmail.com


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Kwiecien's Stunning New Website

w
Mariusz Kwiecien's new website

Polish Barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien has just launched one of the best websites in the world of opera. The site is loaded with beautifully shot photos, schedules, audio, video and a section of his personal photography.

Mariusz Kwiecieb

Kwiecien is currently in his Krakow singing Eugene Onegin, but returns to New York on February 4 to sing Malatesta in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera. Visit his new website for more information.

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How to Scar a Barihunk



Check out this video of barihunk Keith Miller receiving a scar before a performance of Carmen.

By the way, it's his birthday today.

Send your Messiah listing to Barihunk@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Alex Esposito Continues as Reigning Leporello

Alex Esposito in Deutsche Oper Berlin's Don Giovanni
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni, Adam Plachetka as Masetto and Sylvia Schwartz as Zerlina  during a dress rehearsal of "Don Giovanni" in Vienna. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

 

Let's face it Alex Esposito has emerged as the reigning Leporello in the world. If an opera company is assembling a world-class ensemble, it seems like the hunky Italian is the first one called to play Don Giovanni's sidekick. The Vienna State Opera is the latest to call on the physically and vocally gifted performer. He will be performing opposite Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni from December 11-27. 

The cast also includes Sally Matthews as Donna Anna, Saimir Pirgu as Don Ottavio, Roxana Constantinescu as Donna Elvira and Adam Plachetka as Masetto. Tickets and performance is available at the Vienna State Opera website.

You can watch a rehearsal video HERE.  

Send your Messiah listings to Barihunks@gmail.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christopher Richardson in Messiah

Aussie Barihunk Christopher Richardson
30-year-old Christopher Richardson has carved out a career down under specializing in baroque music. He will be performing Handel's Messiah at St. David's Cathedral in Hobart, Australia on December 17 & 18 with the Hobart Baroque Players & Chorus. Click HERE for ticket and concert information.

Send your Messiah listing to Barihunks@gmail.com

Markus Flaig in Messiah

Markus Flaig

We're getting a lot of email from Germany lately that is introducing us to new singers. The latest introduced us to Markus Flaig who is singing the Messiah at the Johanneskirche in Gießen. Like Philip Cutlip in the following post, Flaig has excelled in music spanning three centuries singing everything from Renaissance madrigals to Benjamin Britten. The performances will be with Camerata Frankfurt on December 11 & 12.

Send your Messiah listing to Barihunks@gmail.com

Philip Cutlip in Messiah

Philip Cutlip in Rape of Lucretia

Barihunk Philip Cutlip who recently scored a huge success with a 21st century masterpiece, Philip Glass' "Orphee," is going back three centuries in time and performing Handel's Messiah with the Minnesota Orchestra. Performances begin on Wednesday, December 8, with additional performances on December 9, 10 and 11. Cutlip will be joined by soprano Klara Ek, countertenor Brian Asawa and tenor Thomas Cooley.

Click HERE for tickets and additional concert information.

Send your Messiah listing to Barihunks@gmail.com

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Andre Schuen


We received an email from Germany informing us that barihunks Bo Skovhus and Christopher Maltman would be performing Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" and that Erwin Schrott and Simon Keenlyside would be perfoming "Le Nozze di Figaro" at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. Those performances will be in August 2011 and July 2011 respectively, so we have plenty time of time to cover it.



At the end of the email they asked us if we were familiar with Andre Schuen. They raved about his voice and incredible fidelity to the text. We thought that he was good enough and sexy enough to introduce him to the site. Let us know what you think at Barihunks@gmail.com.


Thursday, December 2, 2010

OperaNow! Needs (And Deserves) Your Vote

Click on Image to vote for Opera Now! podcast
Our favorite opera podcast is barihunk Michael Rice's Opera Now! podcast, which is fun, entertaining, informative and often provocative. Of course, we love that they regularly mention Barihunks, especially Keith Phare's "Ring Scandal." Phares frequently appears on the show along with an interesting mix of regulars that includes the serious and cerebral Oliver Camacho, the loquacious and opinionated countertenor Doug Dodson and Rice's sensible, tech savvy and gorgeous girlfriend Jenny Rivera.

Regardless of our biases, it's still the best music podcast around. In fact, they've been nominated for best Cultural/Arts podcast and we think that our fans should turn out and vote for them. Click on the "Podcast Awards" image above and it will take you to a site where you can cast your vote.

Michael Rice aka "Steamy Rice"
How could you not vote for this guy. Click now!

[Don't even think of scrolling down until you've voted]

You can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com. Don't forget to send us your Messiah listings.

Todd SImpson's Messiah

Michael Todd Simpson

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will perform Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 15 with barihunk Michael Todd Simpson. The concerts are at 7 p.m. in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre.

Simpson will be joined by soprano Ann Monoyios, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Turnbull and tenor James Charles Taylor. Visit the National Arts Centre website for additional information and tickets.



Please send your Messiah listings to Barihunks@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Gay Composers Featured in NY and SF

Blier & Blumberg's "Manning the Canon"
The always brilliant and informative Steven Blier  has put together a program of song entitled "Manning the Canon: Songs of Gay Life" with his New York Festival of Song. The genesis of the concert is fascinating, as Blier first conceived of the idea twenty-two years ago and it didn't come to life until he mentioned it to barihunk Jesse Blumberg.

Blumberg, who is a favorite of this site, also runs the Five Boroughs Music Festival, as well as performing as a singer. Blumberg and Blier decided to put together the program last year, but a family emergency forced the singer to cancel. Another favorite of this site, fellow barihunk Matthew Worth, stepped in and took over the program.

Jesse Blumberg & Matt Worth

Last night Blumberg, Blier and Worth reprised the program along with tenor Scott Murphree and bass Matt Boehler. The program inlcuded Marc Blitzstein’s “Purest Kind of a Guy," Christopher Berg’s "Is It Dirty?," Lutvak and Campbell's "Exit Right," Schubert's quartet for four male voices “Auflösung," Tchaikovsky’s “At the Ball," Poulenc’s “Montparnasse," Griffes’s “Evening Song,” John Wallowich’s  “Bruce.” Bolcom’s “Piano Walk” and “I’ll Be By,” Camille Saint Saëns’s “Si vous n’avez rien à me dire,”  Benjamin Britten’s “Night covers up the rigid land,” Manuel de Falla’s “Polo," Cy Coleman's "Tennis Duet,"  Chris DeBlasio’s “Walt Whitman in 1989,”Bernstein's “To What You Said,” and Cole Porter's "You're the Top."

There is one more performance of "Manning the Canon" on December 2 and tickets are available HERE

Here is an article from Capital New York about the concert, which also raises the (somewhat ridiculous) question of whether a straight singer like Blumberg can sing "gay music." The answer appears to be what we all should know already: Music is a universal language.

Blumberg is not new to gay themed music, as he premiered Ricky Ian Gordon's "Green Sneakers," which we featured on this site.

Barihunk Randal Turner Sporting Our Favorite Tee Shirt

Fans of Gordon's in the San Francisco Bay Area can hear the amazingly talented barihunk Randal Turner perform his "Four Poems by Dorothy Parker." Turner's program, which features America's greatest living composers, also features music by four gay composers, Glen Roven, Clint Borzoni, Jake Heggie and Gordon.

Borzoni, who studied with David Del Tredici and Lee Hoiby, has written a piece for Randal Turner that is based on Walt Whitman and is dedicated to the gay teens who have recently committed suicide. The program also features another piece written for Turner, Julia Schwartz's "Don Juan at 40" based on a from Histories of Desire by Ron Butlin.

Tickets for the Randal Turner concert are available HERE.