Sexy "Elixir of Love" in Graz

Andrè Schuen  (Foto © Werner Kmetitsch/Oper Graz)

Two years ago we received an email from Germany alerting us to the emerging young Tyrolean talent Andrè Schuen. Remarkably, we lost track of him until we were alerted a second time. This time it was for his sexy and shirtless performance of Belcore in Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" ("Der Liebestrank" in German) at the Graz Opera in Austria.

Schuen is another in a long list of barihunks who have been winning vocal competitions, having taken first place in both the Walter-und-Charlotte-Hamel-Stiftung competition and the Mozarteum Internationale Sommerakademie competition. In Salzburg, he made a name for himself by conquering everything from Luigi Nono to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Andrè Schuen sings "Hai gia vinta la causa! from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro:

Graz's Elixir was co-produced with Valencia and Madrid and the sets look like a beach party on a Mediterranean beach resort, with giant cans of beer, bars, beach balls, lifeguards, cheerleaders,  shirtless boys, women in bikinis and a foam party. We still believe that opera can succeed in attracting younger audiences with old warhouses and this production is a prime example. From all accounts, the production has been enthusiastically received.

Margareta Klobucar as Adina with her sexy ensemble boys

Schuen will next appear in Graz as Ford in Verdi's Falstaff opening in January 2013 and Gasparone in Karl Millöcker's Der Fremde opening a month later. 

Next summer, Schuen will graduate to the title character in Mozart's Don Giovanni from the role of Masetto, which he has performed in Graz. His Don Giovanni will premiere in Montpellier on June 6-16, 2013 and Versailles on June 23, 25 & 27, 2013.

Wilfried Zelinka as Dulcamara

Oberwölz native Wilfried Zelinka also cut a sexy figure as Dulcamara. A member of the ensemble at Graz, he's sung Bartolo in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," Masetto in Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Talbot in Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda," Raimondo in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," and Escamillo in Bizet's "Carmen." He will portray Pistola opposite Schuen in next year's "Falstaff."

Andrè Schuen

There are a number of performance of Elixir left in Graz, including an alternate cast, so check their website for dates and casts.

If you want to see 14 more singers as sexy as Andrè Schuen, buy our 2013 Barihunks Charity Calendar and enjoy them all year:

愛の妙薬 (Erwin Schrott) Pays Tribute to Japan

Schrott Check Out His Tee Shirt

Uruguayan barihunk Erwin Schrott is starring as Dr. Dulcamara in a new production of the The Elixir of Love, which opens tomorrow in Valencia. After seeing some football players (soccer to the American readers) wearing uniforms with their names in Japanese as a tribute to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, Schrott decided to ask the costume department to make him a special shirt to wear on stage. (Erwin, how about a photo from the front?).

Rehearsal Photos From Elixir in Valencia (Photos by Tato Baez)

Performances run through April 8 and you can find additional information on the Palau de les Arts website.

Here is Schrott performing as Dr. Dulcamara at the Macerata Opera Festival in 2008:



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Schrott Shots

Hot Shrott

We just NEVER get tired of looking at Erwin "Hot" Schrott, so here are two more pictures from his recent performance of Le Nozze di Figaro in Vienna.

The Uruguayan bass-baritone now heads off to Valencia where he will perform Dulcamara in an updated production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. The performance opens on March 26 and runs through April 10. It's also an opportunity to hear the amazing Nemorino of tenor Ramon Vargas. 

Palacio de Artes in Valencia

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Barihunk Caoduro to Replace Raimondi in L.A.; More Hunks on the Way

Good news for Barihunks fans on the West Coast. It was just announced that barihunk Giorgio Caoduro will replace the legendary Ruggero Raimondi in the Los Angeles Opera production of L'Elisir d'Amore. The adorable Caoduro will take on the role of Dr. Dulcamara.

L.A. Opera favorite and barihunk Nathan Gunn will play the role of Belcore. By the way, Gunn will be singing the Barber of Seville at the LA Opera in November and December of this year with Joyce di Donato and hunkentenor Juan Diego Florez. Gunn will be alternating the title role with fellow barihunk Lucas Meachem, whose cast also includes barihunk prospect Ryan McKinny as Don Basilio. [If we have one criticism of the otherwise wonderful LA Opera, it's that they have a penchant for casting barihunks in the unsexiest roles imaginable!].

RYAN MCKINNY



We love the legendary 67-year-old bass-baritone Ruggero Raimondi, but we think that Caoduro is a casting improvement. He's an amazing comic actor who is just hitting his stride as a major operatic talent. The role of Dr. Dulcamara is perfectly suited to his talents. If you can get to L.A., this should be a "can't miss" performance.

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