Brian James Myer to sing Mercutio with Hawaii Opera Theatre

Brian James Myer

Barihunk Brian James Myer will take on the role of Mercutio in the Hawaii Opera Theatre's new production of Gounod's Romeo & Juliet. Soprano Amanda Woodbury, who sang the role at The Met will sing Juliet, in a cast that also includes Derek Taylor as Romeo, Alyssa Martin as Stephano, Jamie Offenbach as Frère Laurent, Carlos Enrique Santell as Tybalt and Blythe Kelsey as Gertrude.

The opera was first performed at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris on April 27, 1867 and is most notable for the series of four duets for the main characters and the Juliet's oft-performed waltz song "Je veux vivre."

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has inspired all kinds of music, including songs, operas, symphonic poems, Broadway musicals and film scores. Perhaps the most famous musical example is Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story. Remarkably, there are dozens of operas based on the story, but only Gounod's has consistently remained in the repertory. In fact, Brian James Myer just performed in est Side Story at the Grand Teton Music Festival.


Performances are on October 12, 14 and 16 and tickets are available HERE.

Barihunk Paweł Konik makes role debut as Mercutio

Paweł Konik as Mercutio (left)

Barihunk Paweł Konik , who we introduced back in May when he was singing a staged version of Monteverdi's Madrigals at the Dutch National Opera, is now making his role debut as Mercutio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the Silesian Opera House in Bytom, Poland. Opening night is already sold out, but tickets are still available for October 29th!

In 1867, Charles Gounod followed up his successful adaptation of Goethe's Faust into an opera with an adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Not wanting to mess with success, he turned to the same librettists that he used for Faust, Jules Barbier and Michel Carre. The duo remained relatively true to the original play by Shakespeare, although the librettists cut a few scenes that didn't deal directly with the two lovers. They also changed the ending, allowing Romeo just enough life to sing a duet before he dies and Juliet stabs herself.  

Konik is a member of the Opera Academy at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. 

You can hear him sing "C'est Vers Ton Amour..." from Massenet's Don Quichotte by clicking HERE.

On December 9 and 10, he'll be the baritone soloist in Handel's Messiah at the Annum Festival in Poland.  

The Limited Edition Barihunks Photo Book

Our 2018 Barihunks Calendar, which includes 20 of opera's sexiest men is now available for purchase HERE. In response to reader demand, we've also added a Barihunks Photo Book this year, which includes additional photos that don't appear in the calendar. You can purchase that HERE. The New Year is approaching faster than you think!