Ernesto Petti to sing Lord Enrico Ashton in Basel

Ernesto Petti (Photos courtesy of singer and Theater Basel)

Italian barihunk Ernesto Petti will take on the role of Lord Enrico Ashton at the Theater Basel beginning on October 19th. The staging will be led by the noted French director, actor and writer Olivier Py. Tickets and additional information is available online.

Make sure to follow him on Facebook. 

Petti answered a few questions about the performance for Theater Basel:

🎵 What is the best part of the stage setting/best part of costume/best prop?

Petti: In my personal opinion the most beautiful scene is the beginning of the opera: The director re-enacts a famous painting from the late 19th century that depicts a medical examination of a woman, who is ill with hysteria, by Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot in front of a medical audience. And I’d like to compliment the costume department for the wonderful costumes. 

🎵 Why shouldn’t one miss this show?

Petti: This show is absolutely not to be missed. The reading of each character is quite profound and the initial point of the director’s interpretation is very interesting: He compares Lucia’s madness to Augustine’s hysteria - one of Charcot’s famous hysteria patients. The staging perfectly follows the magnificent musical interpretation of the conductor. 

That’s why this will be a great show and the audience will love it! 

🎵 What do you do in your free time?

Petti: During my free time I love walking around the city, visiting open spaces like parks or rivers and I also like to do workouts in the gym. Until a few days ago I loved to relax by swimming in the Rhine!

Sexiest Barihunks Photo Co-Winners: Ernesto Petti & Kasey Yeargain

After a spirited week-long competition for our Sexiest Barihunks Calendar Photo, we're are pleased to a announce TWO winners. The voting was so close between our two top contenders, Italian Ernesto Petti and American Kasey Yeargain, that we're announcing them as co-winners. Each will receive the $100 prize.

Petti who once wanted to be a professional water polo player, shared the stage with Diana Damrau and Piotr Beczala in the controversial performance of Verdi's La traviata last year at La Scala decked out in sexy, white muscle tee shirt.

Ernesto Petti

Petti began his vocal studies in Naples when he was just 18 years old. In 2010, he graduated from the Academy of Torre del Lago Puccini, where he studied with acclaimed tenor Marco Berti.
He won first prize at the Francesco Albanese di Napoli competition and won the second prize at the "Ravello Città della Musica" competition.
 
He made his professional debut in 2009 as Eagro in the Johann Christian Bach edition of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at the Festival Valle d'Itria. He followed that up with a performance in Viardot's Cendrillon. In 2011, he returned to the Festival to sing The Officer in Ernst Krenek's tragic one-act opera Der Diktator, for which he received critical acclaim.


He appeared in Puccini's hometown of Torre del Lago as Harry in the composer's La Fanciulla del West, which celebrated the centenary of his opera about the American West. He has also sang in Bizet's Carmen at the San Carlo in Naples, Verdi's Macbeth at the Teatro Coccia in Novara, Verdi's Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro Municipale di Piacenza and Modena.

Yeargain during a workout

Kasey Yeargain came to our attention with his dramatic Bari-Chunk to Bari-Hunk transformation. Yeargain, who weighed in at around 300 pounds and lacked self-esteem, has become a ripped and confident singer who moonlights as a personal trainer and inspirational blogger on The Opera Bro.
You can read all about the inspiration for his weigh loss and his winning "Tribute to Michelangelo's David" photo on his blog. 

He is currently singing the role of Trevor Graydon III, the wealthy head of Sincere Trust Insurance Company, in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Poteet Theater in Oklahoma City from November 7-December 14 and tickets are available online.

You can purchase your own copy of the 2015 Barihunks Charity Calendar featuring Ernesto Petti, Kasey Yeargain and 17 other sexy singers at LULU. Simply click on the button below. 

 

 

Who submitted the sexiest photo?

This year much of the money raised from our Barihunks Charity Calendar is going directly to the singers who participated. Our first prize is for the Sexiest Photo. We had an expert panel of five people from the music industry pick the top five for you to vote for.

The nominees are #1 Craig Verm in his Italian countryside pose, #2 Christian Smith-Kotlarek in his Rome themed photo, #3 Ernesto Petti swimming off the coast of Italy, #4 Zachary Gordin in his Tribute to Verdi and #5 Kasey Yeargain in his Tribute to Michelangelo.

You can vote to the left of this post. The winner will receive $100. Upcoming prizes will be for Best Photo ($500) and Best Italian Theme ($250).

You can order you own calendar by clicking below.

Reader Submission: Italian Barihunk Ernesto Petti

Ernesto Petti: Water Polo to Opera

Our latest reader submission came from a baritone colleague, who sang with him in Austria and Italy. Meet Salerno native Ernesto Petti, who recently switched fachs from tenor to baritone.

Petti who once wanted to be a professional water polo player, shared the stage with Diana Damrau and Piotr Beczala in the controversial performance of Verdi's La traviata last year at La Scala (that prompted Beczala to exclaim that he'd never sing there again). The production was broadcast, allowing Petti to draw an unusual amount of positive attention in a small role, as he was decked out in sexy, white muscle tee shirt [see photo].

Petti began his vocal studies in Naples when he was just 18 years old. In 2010, he graduated from the Academy of Torre del Lago Puccini, where he studied with acclaimed tenor Marco Berti.
He won first prize at the Francesco Albanese di Napoli competition and won the second prize at the "Ravello Città della Musica" competition.
 
He made his professional debut in 2009 as Eagro in the Johann Christian Bach edition of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at the Festival Valle d'Itria. He followed that up with a performance in Viardot's Cendrillon. In 2011, he returned to the Festival to sing The Officer in Ernst Krenek's tragic one-act opera Der Diktator, for which he received critical acclaim.

Ernesto Petti sings "Il balen del suo sorriso" from Il Trovatore: 

 
He appeared in Puccini's hometown of Torre del Lago as Harry in the composer's La Fanciulla del West, which celebrated the centenary of his opera about the American West. 
 
He has also sang in Bizet's Carmen at the San Carlo in Naples, Verdi's Macbeth at the Teatro Coccia in Novara, Verdi's Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro Municipale di Piacenza and Modena.