Edwin Crossley-Mercer making Dallas Opera debut in Manon

Edwin Crossley-Mercer (left) and Troy Cook (right)

Barihunk Edwin Crossley-Mercer will me making his Dallas Opera debut as Lescaut in Massenet's Manon opening March 4th at the Winspear Opera House for four performances. Fellow barihunk Troy Cook will also be in the cast singing the role of de Brétigny. The role of Lescaut was originally sung by the French baritone Émile-Alexandre Taskin, who also sang in the premiere of Debussy's L'enfant prodigue.

Joining them in the cast are soprano Ailyn Pérez in the title role, tenor Stephen Costello as Chevalier des Grieux, bass-baritone David Pittsinger as Le Comte, also is his Dallas Opera debut and baritone Theodor Carlson as the innkeeper.

Natalie Dessay & Edwind Crossley-Mercer sing "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" 

from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte: 

Additional performances of Manon will take place on March 6, 9 and 12 and tickets are available online.

After Dallas, Crossley-Mercer goes on a recital tour in Gran Canaria, Spain, then to the Festival de Paques Deauville in France, and the Berea Art Song Festival in Ohio. Cook next heads to the Austin Lyric Opera, where he will sing the title role in Rossini's The Barber of Seville. He's also slated to make his company debuts with the Atlanta Opera in Kevin Puts' Silent Night, San Diego Opera and Washington National Opera. He also returns to the Des Moines Metro Opera as Young Galileo in Phillip Glass' Galileo Galilei.

Sexiest "Don Giovanni" Coming to Michigan Opera

In March 2009, Barihunks asked readers to pick the world's sexiest Don Giovanni. We had an incredibly hot group of contestants that included Christopher Maltman, Mariusz Kwiecien, Randal Turner, Simon Keenlyside, Cesare Siepi, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo, Daniel Okulitch, Martin Achrainer and Mark Stone. Not only are all of these men incredibly hot, but they are all pretty amazing singers who perform Mozart's classic as well as anyone on the stage today.

Our readers are a pretty sophisticated bunch and in the end American Randal Turner beat out two other barihunks who also play the role with physically erotic gusto, Simon Keenlyside and Mariusz Kwiecien. Turner has gone on to be a regular on this site and we've bemoaned the fact that despite his American roots, his career has been centered in Europe. To our shear delight, the Michigan Opera Theater has hired Randal Turner to replace fellow barihunk Paulo Szot, who withdrew from the production. It's difficult from their website to figure out what nights he's singing, as he's alternating performances with Robert Gierlach. However, we've confirmed that Turner is performing on April 14th & 17th.

Here is a YouTube clip of Randal Turner singing a beautifully nuanced performance of "Deh, vieni, alla finestra." If you're anywhere near Michigan, we suggest that you click HERE and buy your tickets today. This is a U.S. debut that shouldn't be missed!


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