Thursday, October 31, 2013

Zachary Gordin and Center Stage Opera win first 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar grant

Zachary Gordin as he appears in the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar
We are proud to announce our first grantee from the proceeds raised to date from the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. The winner is Zachary Gordin and Center Stage Opera. They fit our mission perfectly, as the money will benefit both a young artist and a company promoting the careers of young artists.

Zachary Gordin was considered for the grant after tweeting the following to us using  #Barihunks2014:


Center Stage Opera is a company being built by a talented and motivated team of people, dedicated to producing high quality fully-staged opera productions, and giving a venue to gifted young artists to hone their craft in a professional situation.

Gordin, who started his career as a countertenor, performed his first baritone role with Center Stage Opera in 2005 - Enrico in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.  He has maintained an artistic association with them ever since. The company will use the Barihunks grant to bring Gordin back for his third master class with young artists.

"After I heard the funds from the calendar would be awarded based on suggestions from Twitter," said Gordin,  "I thought this Master Class would serve the original purpose of the calendar - providing further training to young artists, both performing and in the audience - and would make a great impact on a modest budget."
 
You can learn more about Center Stage Opera by clicking HERE.

Gordin moved to the top of our list for consideration after adeptly following our suggestion to post nominations on our Facebook timeline or on a Twitter feed using #Barihunks2014. He also went out of his way to promote sales of the calendar, which is important, as the more money we raise, the more we have to give away.

We are just a little short of fully funding his master class, so buy your calendar today by clicking HERE.

Two barihunks in Lizzie Borden world premiere

David McFerrin & Daniel Mobbs
We can't think of a better opera to promote on Halloween than Jack Beeson's Lizzie Borden. The Boston Lyric Opera is presenting a new chamber version of the piece at their Opera Annex on November 20, 22, 23 and 24.

Of course, we all remember the basic synopsis from the children's rope-skipping rhyme: "Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one."

For those of you who don't know the story, Lizzie Borden was tried and acquitted in the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. There has been controversy ever since about her guilt or innocence.

Boston Lyric Opera has commissioned a new chamber version of the work, which premiered in its full-length, three act version at the New York City Opera on March 25, 1965. The revised piece is in seven scenes and stars two singers who have appeared on this site, Daniel Mobbs as the father and David McFerrin as Captain Jason McFarlane.

For additional information or to purchase tickets call 617.542.6772 or email boxoffice@blo.org.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Silent Night to air on PBS

Liam Bonner in Silent Night
The barihunk-laden production of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night from the Minnesota Opera will be broadcast nationally on PBS on Friday, December 13 at 9pm ET (check local listings). The opera was the first commission of Minnesota Opera’s New Works Initiative, a landmark program designed to invigorate the operatic repertoire with an infusion of contemporary works.

The Minnesota Opera presented the world premiere of Silent Night in November 2011 with a cast that included barihunks Craig Irvin as Lieutenant Horstmayer, Gabriel Preisser as Lieutenant Gordon,  Mike Nyby as William Dale, Liam Bonner as Lieutenant Audebert, Troy Cook as Father Palmer, Joseph Beutel as the British Major, Ben Wager as the General and Andrew Wilkowske as Ponchel.

Silent Night is conducted by Minnesota Opera’s Music Director Michael Christie and staged by Academy Award-winning director Eric Simonson. The opera was recently honored with a regional Emmy nomination.

Quartet from Silent Night:

Silent Night was co-produced with Opera Philadelphia, who presented the work in February of this year. It now travels to the Fort Worth Opera Festival on May 4 and 10 with barihunks Dan Kempson, Craig Irvin and Morgan Smith.

The opera is based on the screenplay Joyeux Noël by Christian Carion and recounts a miraculous moment of peace during one of the bloodiest wars in human history. On WWI’s western front, Scottish, French and German officers defy their superiors and negotiate a Christmas Eve truce. Enemies become brothers as they share Christmas and bury their dead.
 
You can listen to the entire opera online at composer Kevin Puts' website. 

Barihunk trio in Zurich Faust (and a hunkentenor!)

Kyle Ketelsen, Jose van Dam and Pavol Breslik
We're not sure if the devil made 'em do it, but the Zurich Opera has cast four of the hottest men in opera in one production of Jan Philipp Gloger’s new production of Gounod's Faust. The hotter-than-hell cast is led by barihunks Kyle Ketelsen as Méphistophélès, Elliot Madore as Valentin and Erik Anstine as Wagner. They will be joined by hunkentenor Pavol Breslik as Faust.

The premiere is on November 3rd and runs through December 11th.

Elliot Madore & Erik Anstine
Madore and Anstine are both members of the Opernhaus Zürich ensemble. Madore will also be seen in revivals of Mozart's Così fan tutte as Guglielmo and Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème. On April 25, 2014, he returns to the U.S. in the title role of Mozart's Don Giovanni at Opera Philadelphia, a role that he will reprise in June at the Glyndebourne Festival. Anstine can be seen in upcoming performances of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Handel's Alcina.

We also recommend that you LIKE Elliot Madore's Facebook fan page where you can follow the career of this rising superstar.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Introducing Thomas "Tommy" Kittle

Thomas Kittle Photo: by Jessica Christie
Our latest reader submission is our favorite kind, as it came from a fellow singer. Meet Denver native Thomas "Tommy" Kittle, who is currently singing the role of Curly in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver. There are two performances remaining on October 31st and November 2nd.

Kittle is currently a masters degree student at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. He won first place in the 2013 Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s annual vocal competition, as well as the Young Artist Encouragement award at the 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This summer he was part of the young artist program at Opera in the Ozarks.


He will be returning to the Newman Center in the title role of Mozart's Don Giovanni from April 17 – 20, 2014. In the meantime, you can catch him performing Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the Boulder Symphony Orchestra on December 7th and at a free recital at the Newman Center on February 1st. Visit their website for additional information.

Curtis Sullivan's sexy Pasha Selim at Opera Atelier

Curtis Sullivan Photo: Bruce Zinger
Photo: Bruce Zinger
Photo: Bruce Zinger

Curtis Sullivan Photo: Bruce Zinger
Opera Atelier, who we feel produces some of the most visually stunning opera in the world, is at it again with their revival of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio. The production stars barihunk Curtis Sullivan, who is a regular with the company and appeared in the original production.

We don't know about you, but if the Pasha Selim looked like Curtis Sullivan, we're not sure why Konstanze would want to be rescued. We also may have run off with the Pedrillo, who in this production is Adam Fisher, who we must confess could distract us from the low voices.


The opera also featurees Lawrence Wiliford as Belmonte, Ambur Braid as Konstanze, Carla Huhtanen as Blonde, hunkentenor Adam Fisher as Pedrillo and Gustav Andreassen as Osmin. Also featured are the Atelier Ballet and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under the baton of David Fallis. There are three performances remaining on October 30 and November 1 and 2.

Vasil Garvanliev
Also appearing with Opera Atelier this season will be Vasil Garvanliev, who appears as our September feature in the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. He'll be performing Divinité Infernale in Lully’s Persée, which will run from April 26 – May 3, 2014. You can order your calendar and help out young artists by clicking HERE. If you have suggestions for who should receive a charity donation post it on our Facebook timeline or Tweet #Barihunks2014. We will announce our first grantee later this week.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Listen to calendar model Doug Carpenter in Most Happy Fella


Doug Carpenter
Doug Carpenter has once again created a sensation in our Charity Calendar. This year he appears on our cover, as well as inside the calendar. Some of you may recall his famous "cupcake" shot, which remains one of our most visited pages.

He's currently performing the role of Joey in the 50th Anniversary production of Frank Loesser's Most Happy Fella at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.  There are plenty of more performances, as the show runs through December 1st. You can also meet Doug Carpenter at two "meet the cast" events on October 31 and November 14. Tickets are available online.

Here's a clip of him performing from the production.


In April, he won $15,000 in the prestigious 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition. You can click HERE to see the famous cupcake picture, as well as listen to his winning set from the Lotte Lenya Competition. He sings "C'est Moi" from Lerner and Lowe's Camelot,  Pierrot's Tanzlied ("Mein Sehnen, Mein Wehnen") from Korngold's Die Tote Stadt,  "This is New" from Kurt Weill's Lady in the Dark and "Molasses to Rum" from Sherman Edwards' 1776.

You can click HERE to purchase you 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. 

Winners of 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar money to be announced


The cover or our 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar
We are about to announce our first two recipients of a donation from our 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. Both awardees made their suggestion on Twitter using #Barihunks2014. However, we need to sell 35 more calendars to fund the two recipients. Barihunks makes $9.60 from every calendar sale and every penny goes to young artists.

If you haven't purchased your calendar yet, do it today. We will announce our winners once we sell 35 more calendars. So, get in the holiday spirit early and order your calendar today. You will help change the lives of young artists. Click HERE to order now.

Make sure to make your suggestion for our next round of recipients by using #Barihunks2014 on Twitter or posting your nominee on our Facebook timeline.

Are you celebrating National Opera Week?



Are you celebrating National Opera Week? Nearly 100 opera companies, schools and organizations across the nation are celebrating the event, which began on October 25 and runs through Sunday, November 3, 2013. The goal is to expose more people to the art form by offering free, accessible events in local communities. Activities include flash opera events, open houses, online activities, lecture/demonstrations and community performances.

National Opera Week is coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).


Thomas Hampson, who serves as the program's Honorary Chairman said, "There is something quite magical about a night at the opera. Those of you who already love the world of opera: bring your friends, bring your family. Those of you who are not quite sure you want to explore the world of opera: I promise you, you do. You will love it."

For a full listing of National Opera Week activities, visit operaamerica.org/OperaWeek.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Zachary Gordin takes Count Almaviva to the Farm Country


Zachary Gordin as he appears in the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar
Visalia, California may be the least likely place to find great opera, and perhaps an even more unikely place to find one of the hottest barihunks in the business today. The city of 125,000 people sits in the heart of California's agricultural region and is known as the Gateway to the Sequoias, as it sits just 36 miles west of Sequoia National Park. 

We've always maintained that some of the most interesting opera happens off of the beaten path, where smaller, more agile companies are willing to take risks that often pay great rewards. The nascent Visalia Opera Company is just such a company. They've brought in Zachary Gordin to portray Count Almaviva in their upcoming production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, which runs from November 8-10. They've even taken to Twitter (@VisaliaOpera) to promote his appearance on Barihunks. Apparently farm country ain't what it used to be.

Gordin, who is also a well-respected vocal coach in the San Francisco Bay Area, will also conduct a master class in voice on Tuesday, November 5th from 3:10-4:20pm. Gordin will work with selected students from the music program and coach them on their specific arias. This workshop is free and the public is welcome to attend.

Tickets for Le Nozze di Figaro are only $25 for adults and $15 for students. They can be purchased online.

You can enjoy Zachary Gordin all year around in our new 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. It's also a great way to support young artists. This year, we're letting readers tell us who should get the money. Post your suggestions on our Facebook timeline or tweet us using #Barihunks2014. Click HERE to purchase yours today.

David Adam Moore gets devilish for new opera

David Adam Moore in Paradise Reloaded
David Adam Moore, who created a sensation in Peter Eötvös’ version of Angels in America, will make his debut at the Neue Oper Wien playing Lucifer in the world premiere of the composer’s latest work Paradise Reloaded (Lilith).

Paradise Reloaded is based on an adaptation by the young German playwright Albert Ostermaier. Eötvös based his opera on the original story, The Devil’s Tragedy, where Lucifer is the main protagonist. In Paradise Reloaded places the spotlight on Lilith and examines the hypothetical question of what might have happened if our Bible-based culture regarded Adam’s first wife Lilith, not Eve, as the original mother of mankind.

There are four performances running from tonight through November 1st. Click HERE for tickets. It will be reprised in Budapest in January at the Bartók Béla National Concert Hall with Holger Falk as Lucifer. We featured Falk on Barihunks in 2009 after Parterre Box ran a piece on him.

You can enjoy David Adam Moore all year in our new Barihunks Charity Calendar. It's also a great way to support young artists. This year, we're letting readers tell us who should get the money. Post your suggestions on our Facebook timeline or tweet us using #Barihunks2014.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Theo Hoffman leads "Julliard Trio of Barihunks" in Upcoming Events

Theo Hoffman as Almaviva
Theo Hoffman, who we introduced to readers in August of this year, will be performing Count Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze do Figaro at Julliard. At the time of the orginal post we didn't have the dates, which are from November 4-10. Joining him in the cast is Jake Alan Nelson as Figaro. Tickets are limited, so call Juilliard Vocal Arts for tickets at (212) 799-5000.

Julliard's "Trio of Barihunks": Szymek Komasa, Theo Hoffman & Jake Alan Nelson
We also didn't have the date for his recital, which we now know will be on December 3 in Alice Tully Hall. The performance will be part of the Juilliard Songfest Britten centennial with accompanist Brian Zeger and fellow barihunk Szymek Komasa, who we first introduced readers in 2011 when he was competing in the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. We also posted about him earlier this month when he was spotted by someone attending a master class where he was working with Joyce DiDonato.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Michael Leibundgut releases single from crossover album (with racy photos)

Michael Leibundgut's "Michael and the band from outer space"

Many opera singers release crossover albums, but it's usually pop standards or Broadway tunes. Leave it to the always innovative Swiss barihunk Michael Leibundgut to place his unique stamp on his new CD. 

His techno-pop band is called "michael and the band from outer space" and their new album "hello" will be released this spring. However, they have been releasing singles, with "a room we share" now available on iTunes. 

Of course what caught our attention was the promotional artwork, which features Michael in his natural glory.

You can listen to his singles "the big o" and "like a gun" by clicking HERE and HERE

Leibundgut in Aureliano Cattaneo's La philosophie dans le labyrinthe 
Leibundgut initially studied choir directing at the Music Academy in Basel, Switzerland, where he later completed his studies in voice. He performed as a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zürich Opera during the 2000-2001 season. From 2001 to 2005, he performed regularly with the Theater St. Gallen.

As regular concert performer, Leibundgut nurtures a wide repertoire including both early music and 20th century music.

Monday, October 21, 2013

A stunning Duncan Rock as Tarquinius at Glyndebourne

Duncan Rock in The Rape of Lucretia (Photo: Richard Hubert Smith)
We've been following the amazing career of barihunk Duncan Rock and watched with great delight how quickly he's developed a devoted following amongst opera goers. We love his willingness to push his artistic boundaries, appearing in everything from Billy Budd at Glynebourne to an updated, gender bending Don Giovanni: The Opera at London's famous nightclub Heaven.

We received more mail about him after he appeared in last year's Barihunks calendar, than any other singer. He has quickly become the perfect example of what opera companies are often looking for today: Great voice, great appearance and great acting. In the pantheon of young baritone talent, he has more people talking than almost any other singer.

Duncan Rock in The Rape of Lucretia (Photo: Richard Hubert Smith)
He's currently turning heads and receiving rave reviews for his portrayal as an often shirtless Tarquinius in Benjmain Britten's The Rape of Lucretia at Glyndebourne. In this production, he is being directed by the great Irish actress and theatre and opera director Fiona Shaw, who is undoubtedly pushing him to even higher artistic standards. Tim Ashley, of the Guardian commented, "Rock undercuts Tarquinius's raffish allure with unnerving intimations of psychotic violence."

The Rape of Lucretia was first performed at Glyndebourne in 1946. It tells the story of Lucretia, who is raped by the tyrant Tarquinius Superbus, ruler of Rome. Unable to live with the shame, Lucretia  commits suicide. The action of the opera is commented on throughout by a Male and Female Chorus who occupy another dimension, at times narrating the story and at times voicing the thoughts of the different characters.

Duncan Rock in The Rape of Lucretia (Photo: Richard Hubert Smith)
There are three remaining performances at Glyndebourne on October 22, 25 and November 28, as well as a tour to Woking, Norwich, Canterbury and Plymouth. A recording of this production will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on December 28th.

For tickets, call 01273 815000 or visit the Glyndebourne website.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Christopher Bolduc makes Met debut in Two Boys


Christopher Bolduc
Christopher Bolduc is finally making his Metropolitan Opera debut, after being a national semifinalist in both the 2007 and 2008 Metropolitan National Council Auditions. He'll be performing as Jake in Nico Muhly's Two Boys, which we've been following since its premiere at the English National Opera in 2011. The much anticipated U.S. premiere, which happens six years after it was commissioned by the Met, takes place on Monday, October 21 at 8 PM. 

The opera explores identity and desire in the shadowy world of the Internet as a detective investigates the stabbing of one teenage boy by another—and discovers a tangled web of online intrigue. Loosely inspired by real events, the work even comes with a warning for Met audiences about graphic and sexual language.

Performances will run through November 14th and tickets are available online.


This revised version of the ENO production of Two Boys is the first composition to be performed at Met stage since it inaugurated its commissioning program with Lincoln Center Theater seven years ago. If you want to see the opera, you'll have to see it live, since General Manager Peter Gelb said the adult themes ruled out the opera from inclusion in the company's HD theater simulcasts.

Keith Miller in the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar
Appearing as Peter will be Barihunks calendar model Keith Miller. Other performers include mezzo-soprano Alice Coote as Detective Anne Strawson and tenor Paul Appleby as Brian, a 16-year-old accused of stabbing Jake.

Don't forget that money from this year's Charity Calendar will be determined from suggestions on our Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #Barihunks2014. Money can go to young artist programs or any efforts involving young artists, including recording, recitals or performances. You can purchase a calendar and help out young artists by clicking HERE

Anthony Reed receives "Encouragement Award" at Met Regionals

Anthony Reed in the new Barihunks Charity Calendar
Anthony Reed, who is featured in the month of May in the new Barihunks Charity Calendar, received an Encouragement Award at the 52nd Annual Wisconsin District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions held last night at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Milwaukee.

Reed studied voice at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire and during his senior year first competed in the Met Auditions. He won, advanced to the next round,  and was asked to sing a featured recital for the Florentine Opera, where he and two other winners sang aria selections.

In 2010, he performed Frère Laurent in four productions of Gounod's Romèo et Juliette at the Seagle Music Colony.  The following summer he returned to the prestigious summer program as a Lisa Reid scholar to sing Lindorf, Coppélius, Dr. Miracle, and Dapertutto in their production of Offenbach's Les Contes d’Hoffmann.  During the summer of 2012 he was a member of the Wolf Trap Opera Studio appearing in the chorus for both Don Giovanni and The Rake’s Progress.   

In 2013, Reed made his professional operatic debut at the Fort Worth Opera Festival singing Truffaldino in Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as being featured in the inaugural year of Frontiers, a new showcase of new opera works.​


Kangmin Justin Kim, Corrie Stallings, Caitlin Ruby Miller, Ian Koziar and Joe Shaddaay
Reed is currently attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He will be performing in two upcoming productions there this season. On November 22, he'll appear as Dr. Dulcamara in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore and then on May 2 & 4, 2014 as Don Magnifico in Rossini's La Cenerentola.
 
Winners at this years Wisconsin District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions were countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim, mezzo Corrie Stallings, soprano Caitlin Ruby Miller, tenor Ian Koziar and tenor Joe Shaddaay

Don't forget that money from this year's Charity Calendar will be determined from suggestions on our Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #Barihunks2014. Money can go to young artist programs or any efforts involving young artists, including recording, recitals or performances. You can purchase a calendar and help out young artists by clicking HERE.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Watch Matt Worth sing Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe

Matt Worth
First of all, we want to congratulate Matt Worth on his recent wedding and wish him and his bride a lifetime of happiness. 

We also wanted to share with our readers this video of him singing Robert Schumann's most famous song cycle, Dichterliebe, Op. 48, at this year's Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. He is joined by accompanist Shai Wosner.

The whole closely integrated song cycle traces an inner narrative, from the initial awakening of love, through rapture, disillusion and despair to tender regret and a final bittersweet, ironic acceptance. Heinrich Heine’s verses are a distillation of the poet’s ultimately doomed love for two of his cousins in Hamburg. For Schumann real life was to provide a happier outcome. Dichterliebe can be heard as his most piercing recreation of the fluctuating, often anguished, emotions he had experienced during his long courtship of Clara Wieck (Schumann).


If you want to see Matt Worth live, make sure to make travel plans to Washington D.C. Worth will star as Starbuck in the highly anticipated East Coast premiere of Jake Heggie's epic Moby-Dick at the Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera from February 22 - March 8, 2014. Queequeg by fellow barihunk Eric Greene. Tickets go on sale December 4, 2013 to the public and on November 25, 2013 to Kennedy Center members.

  
Who gets the money for the 2014 Charity Calendar?    

This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it. 

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Watch Ildar Abdrazakov online in the Verdi Requiem


Ildar Abdrazakov
The Verdi centenary continues online with video from the October 10th performance of his Requiem with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Riccardo Muti. One of the featured singers in barihunk Ildar Abdrazakov, who is joined by mezzo-soprano Daniela Barcellona, soprano Tatiana Serjan and tenor Mario Zeffiri.

The broadcast is also hosted by Samuel Ramey, who many consider the orginal barihunk. He still looks great at 71. Click HERE to watch it in its entirety.

You can see Abdrazakov with the London Symphony Orchestra as part of Valery Gergiev's tribute to Hector Berlioz. Abdrazakov will be singing in The Damnation of Faust on November 3 and 7, and in Romeo and Juliet on November 6 and 13. Click HERE for additional information or tickets.

U.S. audiences can next catch him from February 6-March 8 at the Metropolitan Opera in Borodin's Prince Igor.


Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 


This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it.

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Baritones UnBound in Boston showcases low voices

Baritones UnBound: Marc Kudisch, Ben Davis and Jeff Mattsey
We love that baritones are finally getting the acclaim that they deserve. It's been 23 years since the Three Tenors debuted at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. That concerts spawned a host of offshoots, including Three Sopranos and Three Countertenors, not to mention the Irish Tenors, the Canadian Tenors, the Ten Tenors, Three Tenors and a Soprano and Three Mo’ Tenors. It seemed like we had everything but the Three Baritones.

Well, the wait is over in a show called Baritones UnBound. The show opened on October 8th at Emerson College’s Paramount Theatre in Boston and will run through October 20th.

The show was conceived by Marc Kudisch, whose has been nominated for three Tony and four Drama Desk Award nominations. The show, which is directed by David Dower, explores the history of baritone singing in opera and on the Broadway stage.

Ben Davis in Baritones UnBound
Kudisch is joined by Jeff Mattsey and Ben Davis. Davis has appeared on this site for his portrayal of  Papageno in the recent film adaptation on The Magic Flute. He has made his career in television and in Broadway musicals and recently appeared at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as Billy in Mark-Anthony Turnage's Anna Nicole.

The trio performs Papageno's “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" from The Magic Flute, Figaro’s “Largo al factotum” from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, “Ah! Per sempre,” from Bellini’s I puritani, “I Am a Pirate King” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, and Jud’s “Lonely Room” from Oklahoma, among others.

Visit the ArtsEmerson website for tickets.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Barihunks perform at Britten Centenary Celebration


Next weekend there will be a 2-day centenary celebration of composer Benjamin Britten's work presented by the 5ive Boroughs Music Festival. It kicks off on Saturday, October 19th at the Brooklyn Historical Society at 128 Pierrepont Street. There will be three concerts at 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM. The 4PM concert will feature barihunk Christopher Dylan Herbert in a program of canticles, the Hymn to St. Cecilia and Selected Purcell Realizations.

Other singers include tenor Alex Richardson, soprano Karen Wierzba, soprano Martha Guth, countertenor Geoffrey Williams, tenor Steven Caldicott Wilson, soprano Tami Petty, mezzo Eve Gigliotti, tenor Dominic Armstrong and tenor Kyle Bielfield.


On Sunday, October 20th, the celebration continues in Manhattan with barihunk Michael Kelly in both shows, which start at 1 PM and 4 PM. The 1 PM program includes Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Winter Words and On This Island. The 4 PM program includes Holy Sonnets of John Donne, selected French Folk Songs, excerpts from Who Are These Children, selected English and Irish Folksongs, The Red Cockatoo and excerpts from Juvenilia. Performances will be at the Baruch Performing Arts Center at 55 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Other singers include soprano Mary Mackenzie, tenor Michael Slattery, soprano Martha Guth, mezzo Naomi O’Connell and tenor Nicky Spence. Noted accompanist Malcolm Martineau will perform at teh 4 PM show.
 
Tickets start at $15 for individual concerts and are available online.

  
Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 


This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it.

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.










Gregory Jebaily to appear in Montemezzi rarity

Gregory Jebaily
Barihunk Gregory Jebaily, who we introduced to readers in April and June with sexy shirtless photos, will be singing the role of Manfredo in Italo Montemezzi's L'amore dei tre re ("The Love of the Three Kings") with the Queen City Chamber Opera in Cincinnati. 

L'amore dei tre re is a verismo rarity composed in 1913 by Italo Montemezzi, composed with a mix of Italian lyricism, Wagnerian lushness and Debussian languor. The opera was popular during the first half of the 20th century but has rarely been performed since.

Listen to an entire performance of The Love of the Three Kings from 1962:


The plot may have contributed a bit to its relative obscurity: Archibaldo, an old blind king, menacingly guards his daughter-in-law, Fiora, against the advances of her lover, Avito, a vanquished prince. Three characters die before the unhappy ending.

The performances with Queen City Chamber Opera will be on November 2nd and 3rd and are a part of National Opera Week in Cincinnati. Tickets are only $18/$26 and are available online. You can listen to sound clip of Jebaily on his new website.


Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 

This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it.
Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar?


Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 

This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it. 

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014).

Friday, October 11, 2013

Shirtless photos of Wes Mason in The Tragedy of Carmen

Ola Rafalo and Wes Mason at Syracuse Opera (Photo: Doug Wonders)
After receiving these shirtless photos of Wes Mason as Escamillo in Peter Brook’s adaptation of “The Tragedy of Carmen” at the Syracues Opera, we thought it was worthwhile to follow up with another post.

Peter Brook abridged Bizet’s famous opera to a theater piece that runs a little over 80 minutes and focuses the action entirely on the scenes involving the four principals: Carmen, Don José, Micaëla and Escamillo. He eliminated the chorus and had the French composer Marius Constant reduce Bizet’s symphony orchestra to a chamber orchestra of 15 players. For the spoken dialogues in his adaptation, Brook drew more closely upon Prosper Merimée’s original story than Bizet’s libretto.

There are performances remaining on October 13, 15 and 18 at the Carrier Theater of the Mulroy Civic Center in downtown Syracuse, New York.

Wes Mason as Escamillo (Photo: Doug Wonders)
If you can't catch Wes Mason in Syracuse, you'll have two chances to catch him in one of the sexiest roles in opera, Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers). First up will be at the Baltimore Concert Opera from February 28 to March 2, and then from March 7-9 at the Delaware Opera.



You can enjoy Wes Mason in your own copy of the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. He's joined in December by Christopher Temporelli and Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek in our special three singer spread to warm up your holiday season. Click HERE to order your own copy or as a special gift to the opera lover in your life (or hunky guy lover). 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Nashville Opera's self-proclaimed HUNKFEST

Craig Verm in Nashville Opera's The Pearl Fishers
We couldn't agree more with Nashville Opera's artistic director John Hoomes that Craig Verm and Ben Wager are "aural candy as much as they are eye candy." He should know, as he's cast the two singers in Bizet's The Pearl Fishers that still has performances tonight and Saturday.

Although both singers are well known as two of the sexiest men in opera, they have some serious vocal credentials, as well. Verm received his Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music and graduated cum laude from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He was also a 2006 national semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is also a former member of the young artist programs of Santa Fe Opera and Cincinnati Opera.

Wager was a 2008 as a member of the prestigious Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera and a 2009 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. In 2009, he became a member of the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he has sung Panthus in Les Troyens, Doctor Grenvil in La traviata, Angelotti in Tosca, and Escamillo in Carmen.

They both are rapidly emerging as major talents on the international stage, who we'll want to keep our eyes and ears on in the coming years.

Craig Verm, who may have the most perfect chest in opera, just wrapped up another role where he is cast shirtless - Britten's Billy Budd in Chile. So being cast in Nashville in a role that takes place on the beach makes perfect sense.

We love that the Nashville Scene picked up on the sexy production with the headline, "Buff baritones spice up Nashville Opera's production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers: Raiders of the Lost Hunks." They go on to state that The Pearl Fishers might be the first "ladies night out" not unlike a trip to see the Chippendales. We've always maintained the belief at Barihunks that a sexy body will get them in the door, but great singing will bring them back.

We think that the Nashville Opera has it right on both accounts.


Craig Verm is also featured in the month of August in our new charity calendar. He appears along with Michael Mayes, Aaron Sorensen and Timothy McDevitt. You purchase your copy today by clicking HERE. Buy one for a friend, too, and join us in helping out the next generation of great singers.




Wednesday, October 9, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: GIUSEPPE VERDI'S BICENTENARY (October 10, 1813 - January 27, 1901)


Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was born in Roncole in the former duchy of Parma, he first studied music in the neighboring town of Busseto. Then, upon being rejected in 1832, because of his age, by the Milan Conservatory, he became a pupil of the Milanese composer Vincenzo Lavigna. He returned to Busseto in 1833 as conductor of the Philharmonic Society.

Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey sings "Provero che degno" from Un giorno di regno:

At the age of 25 Verdi again went to Milan. His first opera, Oberto, was produced at La Scala with some success in 1839. His next work, the comic opera Un giorno di regno (King for a Day, 1840), was a failure, and Verdi, lamenting also the recent deaths of his wife and two children, decided to give up composing. After more than a year, however, the director of La Scala succeeded in inducing him to write Nabucco (1842). The opera created a sensation; its subject matter dealt with the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, and the Italian public regarded it as a symbol of the struggle against Austrian rule in northern Italy. I Lombardi (1843) and Ernani (1844), both great successes, followed, but of the next ten productions only Macbeth (1847) and Luisa Miller (1849) have survived in the permanent operatic repertory. Verdi's three following works, Rigoletto (1851), Il Trovatore (1853), and La Traviata (1853), brought him international fame and remain among the most popular of all operas.

 Christian Van Horn Banco's sings "Come dal ciel precipita" from Macbeth:

Operas written in the middle of Verdi's career, including Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball, 1859), La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny, 1862), and Don Carlo (1867), exhibit a greater mastery of musical characterization and a greater emphasis on the role of the orchestra than his earlier works. Aïda (1871), also of this period and probably Verdi's most popular opera, was commissioned by the khedive of Egypt to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal; it was first performed in Cairo. Three years later, Verdi composed his most important non-operatic work, the Requiem Mass in memory of the Italian novelist Alessandro Manzoni. Verdi's other non-operatic compositions include the dramatic cantata Inno delle nazioni (Hymn of the Nations, 1862) and the String Quartet in E minor (1873).

Jonas Kaufmann & Dmitri Hvorostovsky sing "Solenne in quest'ora" from La forza del destino:

In his 70s, Verdi produced the supreme expression of his genius, Otello (1887), composed to a libretto skillfully adapted by the Italian composer and librettist Arrigo Boito from the Shakespearean tragedy Othello. This was followed by Verdi's last opera, Falstaff (1893), also adapted by Boito from Shakespeare, and generally considered one of the greatest of all comic operas.

In general, Verdi's works are most noted for their emotional intensity, tuneful melodies, and dramatic characterizations. He transformed the Italian opera, with its traditional set pieces, old-fashioned librettos, and emphasis on vocal displays, into a unified musical and dramatic entity. His operas are among those most frequently produced in the world today.

Wes Mason inspires a barihunk headline



We've been huge fans of Wes Mason since his breakout performance in Jorge Martín's Before Night Falls in 2010 at the Fort Worth Opera Festival.

He's currently appearing with the Syracuse Opera in their production of the Peter Brooks/Georges Bizet arrangement of The Tragedy of Carmen portraying Escamillo. We've known Wes Mason for three years now and we've learned that he can dominate both a room and a performance. So it was no surprise to us that both the local paper and the artistic director of the Syracuse Opera focused on this rising star. The headline screamed, "Bullfighters, Barihunks, and Bravado."

“There’s this thing in the opera world,” artistic director Douglas Kinney Frost told the Syracuse New Times. “Now, it’s more like a movement, but there’s this blog where they choose ‘barihunks.’ The idea is that he’s a sexy hunk of a guy and he’s a baritone. I’m very proud to have Escamillo as a barihunk. [Wes Mason] loves it. He’s very flattered. And he’s one of the originals.”

Performances run from October 11-20 and tickets are available online

If you can't catch Wes Mason in Syracuse, you'll have two chances to catch him in one of the sexiest roles in opera, Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers). First up will be at the Baltimore Concert Opera from February 28 to March 2, and then from March 7-9 at the Delaware Opera.

(L-R) Christopher Temporelli, Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek and Wes Mason.

You can enjoy Wes Mason in your own copy of the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. He's joined in December by Christopher Temporelli and Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek in our special three singer spread to warm up your holiday season. Click HERE to order your own copy or as a special gift to the opera lover in your life (or hunky guy lover).

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Erwin Schrott in all-star Les vêpres siciliennes in London

Erwin Schrott
On October 10th, we celebrate the long-awaited bicentenary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. Opera companies and music festivals across the globe have been programming a heavy dose of his music and numerous "Verdi Arias" CD's have been released. 

We sifted through the countless productions of Aida, Rigoletto, Traviata and other Verdi operas to find a performance that stood out as a "can't miss" production. A performance of the inexplicably underperformed Les vêpres siciliennes at the Royal Opera House in London jumped off the page at us. Not only is barihunk Erwin Schrott singing Jean Procida, but he's surrounded by an amazing cast that includes tenor Bryan Hymel as Henri and soprano Marina Poplavskaya as Helene under the baton of Antonio Pappano.

Erwin Schrott sings "Palerme! O mon pays!... Et toi, Palerme..." 

Les vêpres siciliennes is in five-acts and was originally written in French for the Paris Opéra. It was translated into Italian shortly after its premiere in June 1855.  The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe and Charles Duveyrier from their work Le duc d'Albe, which was written in 1838 and offered to Halevy and Donizetti before Verdi agreed to set it to music in 1854.

The story is loosely based on a historical event, the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, using material drawn from the medieval Sicilian tract Lu rebellamentu di Sichilia. After its June 1855 Paris premiere, an Italian libretto was quickly prepared using a new title because Verdi realized that it would have been impossible to place the story in Sicily. Based on Scribe's suggestions for changing the location, it became Portugal in 1640 while under Spanish control. This version was first performed at the Teatro Regio in Parma on December 26, 1855.

Performances at the Royal Opera House will run from October 17 through November 11. The November 4th performance will be broadcast to movie theaters worldwide, so check the website for a showing near you.