Introducing Basque Barihunk Gilen Goicoechea

Gilen Goicoechea

A reader suggested Gilen Goicoechea to us, who they saw at the Concours International de Chant Lyrique last Fall.  Goicoechea will be singing in the double bill of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Ravel's L'Heure Espagnole at the Opéra national de Lorraine from September 27 to October 6. He'll be performing Betto and Ramiro respectively and tickets are available online.

The Basque barihunk began by studying trumpet and piano before switching to voice  at the Conservatoire du Grand Avignon. At school, he performed in Offenbach's Le voyage dans la lune and Auber's Fra Diavolo.  

In October 2011, he participated in the Festival Cap Opéra bouffe de Sauveterre, where he played the  Aime in Valérie Marestin's comedic scenes "Les cocottes lyriques." The performance led to an offer to perform in Charles Lecocq's opéra-bouffe Le testament de monsieur Crac at the Festival d'Avignon. Next season he'll perform Monsieur Troundadisse in Sauget's Tistou les pouces verts and Benoit in Puccini's La bohème at Opéra de Rouen.
 
He is a past winner of the Grand concours d'opérette amateur, and was a finalist in vocal competitions in Bezier, Arles and Nimes.

Günter Papendell in Calixto Bieto's Gianni Schicchi

Günter Papendell as Achille (left) and

We wouldn't normally think of pairing sexy German barihunk Günter Papendell with provocative director Calixto Bieto in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, but neither would we think of pairing the Puccini comedy with Bartok's bleak Bluebeard's Castle. Leave it to the Komische Oper in Berlin and Bieto to do just that.

Papendell, who've we've seen in various states of undress at the Komische, will play the role of the Schicchi.

The two operatic masterpieces both premiered in 1918, the same year that the Germans surrendered and ended WWI. The works could hardly be more different, and yet they are combined to form an operatic double bill - black Italian comedy meets Hungarian psycho-drama.

The Komische website states, "Little would appear to link Gianni Schicchi and Bluebeard’s Castle - except for their unadorned depiction of the human abyss. That master of melody Giacomo Puccini spices up his story of the family arguing about their inheritance at the deathbed of the patriarch with tearjerkers such as "O mio babbino caro". Béla Bartók penetrates into the depths in the complex landscape of the soul with his dense score. A grim mystery is hidden behind the seven forbidden doors in Count Bluebeard's Castle, and exposing this mystery will prove the downfall of one young woman."

Bluebeard's Castle and Gianni Schicchi at the Komische Oper

Gidon Saks will sing the role of Bluebeard in the Bartok opera. The operas are being performed without intermission, running approximately 2 1/2 hours. Performances run from March 1 through July 8.

This season Papendell can also be seen at the Komische as Don Giovanni, Escamillo, Achille in Handel's Giulio Cesare and Odysseus. In May, Gidon Saks heads across town to portray Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress at the Deutsche Oper.

Dan Kempson in Carmina Burana & Gianni Schicchi

Dan Kempson

Barihunk Dan Kempson has rapidly become one of our most popular singers on the site and he's become an instant fan favorite in this year's Barihunks Charity Calendar.

If you want to see him live, head to Wichita, Kansas, where you can hear him in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. This is the seventh Carmina Burana of Kempson's young career. He'll be joined by soprano Monica Yunus, tenor Matthew DiBattista, the Wichita Symphony, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Wichita Community Children’s Chorus and the Friend’s University Singing Quakers.

There is a casual "blue jeans" concert on Friday, November 16 and regular performances on the next two night. Tickets are available online.

Zach Altman & Dan Kempson

In April, Kempson will be appearing with his husband, fellow barihunk Zach Altman, in San Jose Opera's double bill of Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Altman, who is on the roster of San Jose Opera, will play the title role of Gianni Schicchi, while Kempson will portray Betyo. Performances are on April 14, 20, 23 and 28. Visit the San Jose Opera website for additional information or tickets.

Make sure to get you Barihunks Charity Calendar featuring Dan Kempson before the holiday rush. Order now by clicking below: