Andrea Mastroni in Verona's glorious Aida

Andrea Mastroni (top) and Verona's Aida (bottom)

Italian bass-barihunk Andrea Mastroni opens on August 10th as Ramfis and the King in the popular production of Verdi's Aida at the Arena di Verona in Italy. Last season at the Arena, Mastroni's sinister and dark Sparafucile in Verdi's Rigoletto was a big hit singing opposite Leo Nucci and Aleksandra Kurzak. Performances run through September 7th with rotating casts (Cast lists for daily performances can be found HERE).

We should also mention that Marco Vratogna, who has been featured on this site, is singing Amonasro. 

Andrea Mastroni sings "Quel vecchio maledivami" from Rigoletto;

Andrea Mastroni was born in Milan and originally studied the clarinet.  He then began studying voice with the great Italian soprano Lello Cuberli and Rita Antoniazzi. He graduated with honors from the Istituto Claudio Monteverdi in Cremona, while also obtaining a degree in Aesthetic Philosophy. In 2005, he won the Mario Basiola Prize and in 2007 took home both the Giuseppe Di Stefano Competition and the Bibiena Prize.

The current Verona season also includes Bizet's Carmen, Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Gounod's Romeo et Juliette.

On January 10, 21 and 23 next year, Mastroni will be appearing as Walter in Verdi's Luisa Miller at the Aalto-Musiktheater in Essen, Germany.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Wows Verona, Heads to L.A.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

Barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo just completed his historic run in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Arena di Verona. The new Franco Zeffirelli production was the first performance of the opera at that venue in ninety years. We suspect that video will pop up over the next few months from the production. Most of what is available now is rehearsal footage. We promise to post it as it becomes available, because it was a production for the ages.

Video stills from Muica with Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

Musica did a wonderful video overview of the opera that features the Italian heartthrob shirtless most of the time. There's also an interview from RAI Radio 3 in Italy with the singer. Watch it at Euronews and D'Arcangelo's interview HERE (in Italian).

In the meantime, enjoy D'Arcangelo serenading some happy Italians with  "Deh vieni alla finestra."

 Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sings "Deh vieni alla finestra" from Verona:

D'Arcangelo now takes his seductive Don to Hollywood, as he opens as the title character with the Los Angeles Opera. The three week run begin on September 22 with the adorable Masetto of Joshua Bloom. Regular readers might recall that Bloom made his successful debut in the role last Fall with a cast that includes fellow barihunks Luca Pisaroni and Mariusz Kwiecien.

For additional cast and performance information visit the Los Angeles Opera website.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo First Don Giovanni in 90 Years at Verona; New Recording with Pisaroni and Wolff

We were amazed to learn that the new Zeffirelli production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Arena di Verona was the first performance of the opera at that venue in ninety years! The opening cast featured barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in the title role, which he will turn over to fellow barihunk Erwin Schrott on July 12 and 18. D'Arcangelo performs the role on June 29 and July 6 and 25.

The season will continue with some of the more regular staples of their repertory, Aida, Carmen, Roméo et Juliette, Turandot  and Tosca. Visit the Arena di Verona website for additional information.

D'Arcangelo is also coming out with a new recording of the opera with an all barihunk cast. He's joined by the Leporello of Luca Pisaroni and the Masetto of Konstantin Wolff. The Deutsche Grammophon recording is scheduled for release on September 7, 2012.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com