Morgan Pearse moving back to U.K.; Role debut as Figaro

Morgan Pearse

Morgan Pearse moved to the United States a year ago to become a Studio Artist wtih the Houston Grand Opera where his roles included Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Yamadori in Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Anthony  in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. He also performed in the Jukebox Concert with the Wolf Trap Opera and Vocal Colors concert in Washington D.C. By all accounts, he impressed the U.S. opera world and will undoubtedly be a regular on American stages.

However, he's now moving back to the U.K. where he studied at the Royal College of Music International Opera School. Fans won't have to wait long to hear him, as he's making his debut as Figaro in Rossini's Barber of Seville at the English National Opera on September 28 for a 10 performance run. The opera will also be broadcast by ENO Screen on October 19th at theatres throughout the U.K. and Ireland.

He'll be joined in the cast by ENO regular Andrew Shore as Bartolo, mezzo Kathryn Rudge in her role debut as Rosina,  the amazing young tenor Eleazar Rodriguez making his company debut as Count Almaviva and fellow barihunk Barnaby Rea as Don Basilio. Last June, Pearse appeared at ENO as Pompeo in Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini.

Additional performances at the London Coliseum are on September 28 and 30, October  3, 9, 15, 19, 24 and 30 and Nov 5 and 11. On November 4th, he'll appear as part of the Samling Young Artists concert at Wigmore Hall along with soprano Susanna Hurrell, tenor Nick Pritchard and bass-baritone Arshak Kuzikyan.

English National Opera rolling out a season of barihunks

Morgan Pearse and Barnaby Rea

The English National Opera has announced its new season and they have enough barihunks featured to start a small men's chorus.

Lovers of ginger barihunks won't want to miss Rossini's Barber of Seville, which features Aussie Morgan Pearse in the title role and Barnaby Rea as Don Basilio. Andrew Shore returns in this Jonathan Miller production in his signature role of Bartolo, while Kathryn Rudge sings Rosina and the gifted young tenor Eleazor Rodriguez takes on Count Almaviva. There will be ten performances beginning on September 28th.

Ashley Riches, Nicholas Masters and Duncan Rock

Beginning October 16th, ENO will feature a barihunk trio in fourteen performances of Puccini's La bohéme. Duncan Rock, who is easily one of the most popular barihunks on this site, will sing Marcello. He'll be joined by the Colline of Ashley Riches and Nicholas Masters as Schaunard. Zach Borichevsky will sing Rodolfo, Corinne Winters sings Mimi and Rhian Lois sings Musetta. The opera will be directed by Benedict Andrews. Fans of Duncan Rock in the US can catch his American debut in the title role of Don Giovanni, running from May 1-10 with the Boston Lyric Opera.

George von Bergen

ENO Harewood Young Artist George von Bergen will sing Sharpless in Anthony Minghella's award-winning production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The British singer studied at the University of Bristol, the Royal Academy of Music and the National Opera Studio in London, before going on to win the Royal Overseas League singing competition. He has performed with the Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera and Garsington Opera, and made his BBC Proms debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music with Sir Andrew Davis.

Other operas in the upcoming season include Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Mozart's The Magic Flute, Bellini's Norma, Verdi's The Force of Destiny, Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado, Glass' Akhnaten, Janacek's Jenufa and Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. 

If you can't wait until the new season, you can check out barihunk Leigh Melrose as Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen, which runs from May 20-June 3. Visit the ENO website for complete cast list and ticket information.