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 trio in Hawaii Opera Theatre's "Carmen"

Darren Stokes, Brian James Myer and Matt Treviño

Darren Stokes will be singing the role of Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen at the Hawaii Opera Theatre, joined by fellow barihunks Matthew Treviño as Zuniga and Brian James Myer as El Dancaïro.   

Bass-barihunk Darren Stokes, who was a chemist before singing opera full-time, is new to the site. He is an alumnus of the Ryan Opera Center of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and was awarded the Leo M. Rogers Scholarship for Outstanding Apprentice at the Sarasota Opera. This season he toured Germany as Crown in Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, a role he reprised that season in Ithica, New York. He made his mainstage debut at the New York City Opera as Sciarrone in Puccini's Tosca and toured as Escamillo with the company throughout Europe and the Middle East. 

Darren Stokes

The cast for Carmen also includes Kate Aldrich in the title role, Kip Wilborn as Don José and the stunning Talise Trevigne as Micaëla. Performances are on October 13, 15 and 17, and tickets are available online.  

The 2018 Barihunk Calendar and 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!