When Adonis Calls chosen for Frontiers; Features two baritone leads

Promo for When Adonis Calls

It's not often that we can feature an opera that has an all-barihunk cast, but that seems to the case with When Adonis Calls. Written by composer Clint Borzoni and librettist John de los Santos, the opera chronicles the tumultuous correspondence between an established writer and an eager young admirer. The piece is scored for two baritones, string quartet, percussionist, and two dancers.

The opera was recently selected for Fort Worth Opera's third annual Frontiers workshop, which features eight works in development by emerging composers and librettists. Borzoni is no stranger to writing for low voices. In 2010, he was commissioned to write a song cycle for bass-baritone Tim Hill and several songs for bass-barihunk Randal Turner. Turner’s songs appear on his CD, “Living American Composers” and were performed at the 9/11 tribute at the U.S. embassy in Sweden. He also recently completed a two act opera titled “Antinous and Hadrian,” which features a baritone lead.

John de los Santos, the librettist, is actually one of opera's hottest and most talented young directors and choreographers. In 2011, we named him the "Best Director" in our "Best of the Year" feature for his brilliant work on Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado. He subsequently has been featured on the site for his work directing Piazzolla's tango opera Maria de Buenos Aires in Lexington with barihunk Luis Alejandro Orozco and Ricky Ian Gordon's Green Sneakers in both San Francisco and San Antonio with barihunk Jesse Blumberg, and Bizet's Pearl Fishers in Fort Worth with barihunk Lee Poulis.

John de los Santos (left) and Jesse Blumberg in Green Sneakers (right)

De los Santos constructed his innovative libretto from the poems of Gavin Geoffrey Dillard, who has written texts for Peter Allen, Chanticleer, Sam Harris, Jake Heggie, Glen Roven, Ralph Edwards and Disney Studios. His classical art songs ("Of Gods and Cats") were featured at Lincoln Center by mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore. His infamous Hollywood tell-all book, IN THE FLESH: Undressing for Success, chronicles his life as a gay porn star, high-paid male escort, his exciting long-term-relationship, and eventually his search for self through poetry and Asian religion.

When Adonis Calls will be featured at Frontiers during the Fort Worth Opera Festival on May 7 & 8, 2015. Post-performance discussions and open rehearsals will be part of the showcase. Frontiers began during the 2012- 2013 season as an opportunity for composers and librettists to showcase up to twenty minutes of their new works in front of artistic directors of opera companies, artist managers, classical music publishers, funding organizations, and conductors.

The singers have not been selected for the work, but we'll be sure that our readers are the first to know. We'll also be in attendance for the workshop in Fort Worth. as well as their performances of Verdi's La traviata, David T. Little's Dog Days and Thomas' Hamlet, featuring barihunk Wes Mason in his first performance of the title role. Visit their website for tickets and additional information.

If you want to enjoy 19 of the hottest barihunks in opera, then order your 2015 Barihunks Calendar by clicking on the LULU button below. You'll be glad that you did!!!