Marco Vassalli's upcoming gala at the Eutiner Festspiele

Marco Vassalli

The Eutiner Festspiele has been presenting outdoor concerts on the old ducal palace gardens of East Holstein town of Eutin since 1951.  Each year about 40,000 spectators come to listen to complete operas and concerts, which concludes with a gala concert that includes fireworks.

Eutin is the birthplace of composer Carl Maria von Weber. To honor him, the open-air theater (Freilichtbühne) was built in the park of Eutin Castle and operas are performed there. This year's operas are Verdi's Aida and Carl Zeller's Der Vogelhändler.

Included in this year's lineup is German barihunk Marco Vassalli, who just wrapped up his calendar photo shoot for us in France. We thought that we'd use this as an opportunity to share some of the pictures that won't be in the Barihunks calendar, but worthy of sharing. Despite his Italian surname, Vassalli was born and raised in Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Germany and studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne.

This year's Eutiner Festspiele gala will include music by Johann Strauß and Franz Léhar. Vassali will be joined mezzo Milana Butaeva, tenor Vincent Schirrmacher and fellow baritone Uwe Schenker-Primus. The concert is on August 21 and 22 and tickets are available online. This Fall, he heads to the Staatsoper Hannover to peform four roles in Bernstain's Candide.

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.

Ryan Kuster to perform in Adler Fellows Concert

Ryan Kuster

Barihunk Ryan Kuster will join seven other Adler Fellows for a gala concert on November 30 at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. The ten singers are promising young artists wrapping up their activities in a performance-oriented program under the auspices of the San Francisco Opera Center. Tickets are available at the San Francisco Opera website.

Kuster will perform “Alfin questo Corsaro è mio prigione…Cento leggiadre vergini” from Verdi's Il Corsaro with fellow baritone Joo Won Kang, “Hai già vinta la causa…Vedrò mentr’io sospiro” from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and “Sì, tutto cangerà…Là del ciel nell’arcano profondo” from Rossini's La Cenerentola with mezzo Laura Krumm. You'll also get a chance to see the thrilling young tenor Brian Jagde sing “Forse la soglia attinse…Ma se m’è forza perderti” from Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera.

Former Adler Fellows include barihunks John Relyea and Mel Ulrich;  sopranos Nicolle Foland, Nancy Gustafson, Mary Mills, Patricia Racette, Ruth Ann Swenson and Deborah Voigt; mezzo-sopranos Zheng Cao and Dolora Zajick; countertenor Brian Asawa; tenors Alek Shrader and Thomas Glenn; baritones David Okerlund, Monte Pederson and Mark Delavan.

Next year's class includes two barihunks who we've covered extensively for their matinee idol looks, but also happen to be two incredibly gifted singers: Hadleigh Adams and Phillipe Sly.

You can help support young artists like those in the Adler program by purchasing our 2013 Barihunks Charity Calendar. Get in the holiday season early by purchasing it today. What are you waiting for?

Live Webcast of Barihunks Luca Pisaroni & Thomas Hampson Together

On Sunday, April 29, the father-in-law/son-in-law barihunk duo of Luca Pisaroni and Thomas Hampson will appear in a Gala Concert at the Heidelberger Frühling Festival. The West German Radio Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Massimo Zanetti for an evening of arias and duets by Giuseppe Verdi, Gioacchino Rossini and Wolfgang Mozart.  

Since not everyone can be there, we're pleased to announce that there will be a live webcast beginning at 6 PM CEST (Noon EST, 9 AM PST), which you can access HERE.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com