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.