Teatro Real's sexy, "100% Masculine" Billy Budd

Jacques Imbrailo and Borja Quiza in Billy Budd at the Teatro Real

The advertisement for Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd at the Teatro Real in Madrid looks like it was written by Bariunks: "100% Masculine, 8 baritones, 1 bass-baritone and 3 basses..." [and some tenors, etc.].  The production, which is part of their bicentenary celebration, includes a veritable "who's who" of barihunks, including Jacques Imbrailo as Billy Budd, Thomas Oliemans as Mr. Redburn, Duncan Rock as Donald, Torben Jürgens as Lieutenant Ratcliffe and Borja Quiza as The Novice's Friend.

Teatro Real's sexy ad for Billy Budd

The libretto is based on the novel with the same name by Herman Melville and takes place aboard a ship of the British Royal Navy. The opera tells the story of the sailor Billy Budd: a beautiful youth who is loyal, generous, strong, naive and kind. Billy’s physical attributes and charisma disarm the ship's master-at-arms who is incapable of controlling the situation and in the end, he sacrifices the innocent lad without compunction. 

The Teatro Real certainly plays up these aspects in their production, which runs through February 25. Tickets and additional cast information is available online.

Photos from Zomeropera's sexy Don Giovanni

Gianluca Margheri as Don Giovanni

We recently posted about the upcoming production at the Zomeropera in Belgium where barihunks Borja Quiza and Gianluca Margheri are alternating the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni. We've just gotten pictures of both casts and lovers of a sexy Don won't be disappointed.

The worst thing about this production would be deciding which cast to see. Fans of Margheri can catch him on May 27, 29, 31 and June 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. Fans of Quiza can see him on May 25, 28, 30 and June 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 20. Tickets are available online.
 

Borja Quiza as Don Giovanni

The Zomeropera, which is in its 17th season, was created to bring professional orchestra musicians together with students to perform work for a broader audience. The professionals occupy the concert master’s chair and the lead player positions for viola, cello, double bass, wood instruments and brass instruments. These masters coach the different instrumental groups and offer their assistance in recruiting talented students.

Thomas Rainer Schütz

On June 23 and 24, there will also be a gala concert featuring some of Europe's top opera studio opera artists. Included in the concert will be baritones Thomas Rainer Schütz and Owain Browne, tenors Denzil Delaere and João Terleira, sopranos Sarah Mc Court, Julia Rodriguez and Siân Winstanley, as well as mezzo-soprano Helene Bracke.

Barihunks rotating Giovanni at Zomeropera

Gianluca Margheri

Gianluca Margheri, who is the featured model this month in the Barihunks calendar, is rotating the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni with fellow barihunk Borja Quiza at the Zomeropera in Belgium.

The Zomeropera, which is in its 17th season, was creaed to bring professional orchestra musicians together with students to perform work for a broader audience. The professionals occupy the concert master’s chair and the lead player positions for viola, cello, double bass, wood instruments and brass instruments. These masters coach the different instrumental groups and offer their assistance in recruiting talented students.

Borja Quiza

Each production offers the students who are involved a vast amount of detailed information about the  interpretation of opera repertoire.

Performances will run from May 24-June 21, so there is plenty of time to check out both casts.

Before he heads to Zomeropera, Margheri will be part of an opera gala on May 10th under the baton of Zubin Mehta at the Teatro Communale in Florence, Italy. He'll be performing Act 4 of Verdi's Otello with tenor Gregory Kunde.

Final Scene of Don Giovanni with Borja Quiza:

Borja Quiza in "I, Don Giovanni"

Quiza has been closely identified with the title role in Mozart's masterpiece, having starred as the famed seducer in Carlos Saura's stunningly beautiful film of "I, Don Giovanni."

Introducing Borja Quiza

Borja Quiza

Spanish barihunk Borja Quiza was recommended to us our favorite way - by a fellow barihunk. In 2009, he won the "Opera Actual" prize as best lyric singer and a year later won the "Premio Lirico Teatro Campoamor de Oviedo" as best zarzuela singer. His claim to fame in his young career has been playing the title role in Carlos Saura's filmed production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni."



In a short period of time he has established a successful career throughout Spain, singing in Valencia, Bilbao, La Coruna, Arriaga, Madrid, Barcelona and Oviedo. He has performed many of the great leading baritone roles, including Figaro in "Il Barbiere de Siviglia," the Count in "Le Nozze di Figaro," Guglielmo in "Cosi fan tutte," Don Giovanni, Papageno in "Die Zauberflote," Marcello in "La Boheme" and Zuniga in Pearl Fishers. He has also made his mark as a rapidly emerging star in zarzuela. His upcoming schedule includes mostly Mozart and Rossini.



We look forward to seeing more of this gifted young singer in the future. If you know of someone who should be featured on this site, please let us know at Barihunks@gmail.com.

Borja Quiza

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