Theo Hoffman leads "Julliard Trio of Barihunks" in Upcoming Events

Theo Hoffman as Almaviva

Theo Hoffman, who we introduced to readers in August of this year, will be performing Count Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze do Figaro at Julliard. At the time of the orginal post we didn't have the dates, which are from November 4-10. Joining him in the cast is Jake Alan Nelson as Figaro. Tickets are limited, so call Juilliard Vocal Arts for tickets at (212) 799-5000.

Julliard's "Trio of Barihunks": Szymek Komasa, Theo Hoffman & Jake Alan Nelson

We also didn't have the date for his recital, which we now know will be on December 3 in Alice Tully Hall. The performance will be part of the Juilliard Songfest Britten centennial with accompanist Brian Zeger and fellow barihunk Szymek Komasa, who we first introduced readers in 2011 when he was competing in the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. We also posted about him earlier this month when he was spotted by someone attending a master class where he was working with Joyce DiDonato.

Barihunks perform at Britten Centenary Celebration

Next weekend there will be a 2-day centenary celebration of composer Benjamin Britten's work presented by the 5ive Boroughs Music Festival. It kicks off on Saturday, October 19th at the Brooklyn Historical Society at 128 Pierrepont Street. There will be three concerts at 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM. The 4PM concert will feature barihunk Christopher Dylan Herbert in a program of canticles, the Hymn to St. Cecilia and Selected Purcell Realizations.

Other singers include tenor Alex Richardson, soprano Karen Wierzba, soprano Martha Guth, countertenor Geoffrey Williams, tenor Steven Caldicott Wilson, soprano Tami Petty, mezzo Eve Gigliotti, tenor Dominic Armstrong and tenor Kyle Bielfield.

On Sunday, October 20th, the celebration continues in Manhattan with barihunk Michael Kelly in both shows, which start at 1 PM and 4 PM. The 1 PM program includes Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Winter Words and On This Island. The 4 PM program includes Holy Sonnets of John Donne, selected French Folk Songs, excerpts from Who Are These Children, selected English and Irish Folksongs, The Red Cockatoo and excerpts from Juvenilia. Performances will be at the Baruch Performing Arts Center at 55 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Other singers include soprano Mary Mackenzie, tenor Michael Slattery, soprano Martha Guth, mezzo Naomi O’Connell and tenor Nicky Spence. Noted accompanist Malcolm Martineau will perform at teh 4 PM show.
 
Tickets start at $15 for individual concerts and are available online.

  
Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 

This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it.

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.

Chris Herbert featured in webcast N.Y. Britten tributes

The free Trinity Wall Street concert series has announced their 2013-14, which will focus on the music of Benjamin Britten in honor of the centenary of the composer’s birth. The festival will explore the British composer’s orchestral, vocal and chamber works and barihunk Chris Herbert will be performing in three of those concerts.

On Tuesday, November 26th at 1 PM, he'll be at Trinity Church (Broadway at Wall) in a concert that includes Britten's "Sechs Hölderlin Fragmente, Op. 61; Songs and Proverbs of William Blake" and Poulenc's "Chansons Gaillardes, FP 42." He'll be joined at the piano by his husband Timothy Long, as well as tenor Steve Wilson.

On Thursday, December 12th at 1pm at Trinity Church in a concert featuring Britten's "Folksongs; Who are these children?" and Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" with tenor Steven Caldicott Wilson and Timothy Long.

On Monday, December 30th at 1pm, he'll be at St. Paul’s Chapel (Broadway at Fulton) for a concert that includes Bach's Cantata BWV 125: "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin; BWV 10: Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" and Britten's "Canticle IV: Journey of the Magi." He'll be joined by tenor Steven Caldicott Wilson, countertenor Geoffrey Williams, the Trinity Baroque Orchestra; and Choir of Trinity Wall Street under the baton of Julian Wachner.

All concerts at Trinity Wall Street are filmed and webcast live at www.trinitywallstreet.org, where you can also find a complete schedule of the upcoming season. 

 

Herbert is also part of the vocal chamber ensemble New York Polyphony, which can next be heard on September 16th at SubCulture Arts Underground in New York City. Their latest release is Times go by Turns featuring masses by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, as well as a three-voice mass setting by medieval English composer John Plummer. It also includes three new works written for New York Polyphony by composers Gabriel Jackson, Andrew Smith, and the late Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.