Gianluca Margheri to sing Alidoro in Palermo

Gianluca Margheri as Don Giovanni & Apollo (photo right ©Giancarlo Malandra)

Gianluca Margheri will be singing Alidoro in Rossini's "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella) at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo on April 19, 22 and 24. He'll be joined by the amazing tenor René Barbera as Don Ramiro, Chiara Amarù as Angelina, Paolo Bordogna as Don Magnificio, Riccardo Novaro as Dandini, Marina Bucciarelli as Clorinda,  and Annunziata Vestri as Tisbe. The role of Alidoro replaces the Fairy Godmother from the original story of Cinderella. Tickets are available online.

In Act 1, Alidoro sings "Là del ciel nell'arcano profondo" in disguise as one of the King's officials. He is with Cenerentola who cannot attend the Prince's ball at her father's insistence. Alidoro realizes the goodness in Cenerentola and tells her that he will bring her to the ball himself. She believes that he is making fun of her. To show her that he means what he says, he throws off his cloak to reveal his noble clothes beneath and sings to her that God himself has looked down upon her and shows favor upon her and thus, she should not be afraid of going to the ball. He then goes on to say that his carriage is coming and, although she must be confused and upset, she will soon be in happier days.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sings "Là del ciel nell'arcano profondo":

 

Rossini composed La Cenerentola when he was 25 years old, following the success of The Barber of Seville the year before. Throughout most of the 19th century, its popularity rivaled that of the Barber of Seville, but as the coloratura contralto, for which the title role was originally written, became rare it fell slowly out of the repertoire.

The opera contains some of his finest writing for solo voice and ensembles. Perhaps the most popular aria from the piece today is Cenerentola's "Nacqui all'affanno ... Non piu mesta," which is often used be singers to end recital programs or as an encore. Other popular pieces include Don Magnifico's "Miei rampolli femminini, Dandini's "Come un'ape ne' giorni d'aprile" (a popular audition piece for young baritones), Prince Ramiro's "Si, ritrovarla io giuro" and the ensemble "Questo è un nodo avviluppato."

After Rossini's La Cenerentola, Margheri will head to the Hungarian State Opera from June 17-23 to perform Purcell's The Fairy Queen and then he's off to St. Gallen to sing the title role in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro running from September 17 through November 25.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo adding new roles to repertory

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

After having to scrap the role of Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust last summer, Italian barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is slated to debut the role with the Staatsoper Berlin this summer. He made his debut with the company in 2010 as Don Giovanni, a role that he has sung to great acclaim throughout the world.

Faust will be directed by Philipp Stölzl, who directed the films North Face, Goethe! and The Physician along with opera productions at the Salzburg and Vienna Festivals, Theater Basel and three operas at the Staatsoper Berlin - Rienzi, Parsifal and Faust. Performances run from June 19-July 5. The remainder of the cast includes Teodor Ilincai as Faust, Krassimira Stoyanova as Marguerite and Markus Brück as Valentin.  

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sings the Song of the Golden Calf:

 

Although generally associated with Rossini and Mozart, he's now branching out into new repertory, recently adding Verdi's Attila in Bilbao and Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra in Barcelona next year. Simon Boccanegra will run from April 12-29 with a cast that includes Leo Nucci in the title role, Barbara Frittoli as Amelia, Fabio Sartori as Gabriele and Àngel Òdena as Paolo.

Royal Opera takes barihunks on Japanese road show

Liudmyla Monastyrska and Simon Keenlyside (left, photo: Clive Barda); Alex Esposito (right)

 The Royal Opera House is taking three of the most popular barihunks in the works on a tour of Japan in September 2015. The company had a successful tour in 2010, the last time that they toured the island nation.

The company will perform Phyllida Lloyd's production of Verdi's Macbeth with Simon Keenlyside in the title role alongside soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska as Lady Macbeth, Greek tenor Dimitri Pittas as Macduff, and American bass Raymond Aceto as Banquo.  

Alex Esposito looking bari-hunky

Kasper Holten's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni will feature the Italian barihunk duo of Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in the title role and Alex Esposito as Leporello. They will be joined in the cast by mezzo-soprano (and honorary barihunk) Joyce DiDonato as Donna Elvira, tenor Rolando Villazón as Don Ottavio, soprano Albina Shagimuratova as Donna Anna, soprano Julia Lezhneva as Zerlina, and bass Matthew Rose as Masetto. 

Both productions will be conducted by ROH Music Director Antonio Pappano.  Macbeth runs for four performances in Japan beginning September 12th, with Don Giovanni running for three performances beginning September 13th. Information about tickets and venues will be announced shortly.

Barihunks on-the-air from LA Opera & Metropolitan Opera

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

Italian barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo will portray Escamillo in the Los Angeles Opera's season-opening production of Carmen on September 21st. The performance will be broadcast as part of "LA Opera on Air" on Classical KUSC 91.5 FM. The performance also features hunkentenor Brandon Jovanovich as Don José, Patricia Bardon as Carmen and South African soprano Pretty Yende in her LA Opera debut as Micaëla. Placido Domingo will conduct.

If you want to see Ildebrando D'Arcangelo live, there are additional performances on September 26, September 29, October 1, October 4 and October 6. The performance of September 28 will feature Dwayne Croft as Escamillo. Tickets are available online.

Mariusz Kwiecien

"The Met: Live in HD" series opens with Polish barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, which also stars Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala. The October 5th transmission features a new production by Deborah Warner and will be conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Other Live in HD transmissions featuring barihunks are Shostakovich’s The Nose featuring Paulo Szot on October 26 and Ildar Abdrazakov in Borodin’s Prince Igor on March 1.

All 10 of the Met's high-definition productions will be shown live worldwide on Saturdays. Most operas begin at 12:55 p.m. EST/9:55 PST, but check the Met website to confirm starting times. 

Florida Grand Opera's "Opera's Sexiest Men"

The Florida Grand Opera has been having a great time on Facebook and Twitter with the recent Marie Claire feature about the sexiest men in opera. They've now created they're own meme of "Opera's Sexiest Men."

We certainly won't take issue with ANY of the barihunks on their list, which includes Seth Carico, Mariusz Kwiecien, Nathan Gunn, Randal Turner, Gabriel Bermudez, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Michael Mayes, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and Keith Miller, all of whom have appeared on this site. They've even included some of our favorite tenors, like Jonathan Blalock, Alek Shrader Michael Fabiano and Eric Margiore.

Make sure to check out Florida Grand Opera's upcoming season, which includes Puccini's La boheme, Mozart's Magic Flute, Verdi's La traviata and Bellini's La sonnambula. Visit their website for additional information.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Don Giovanni - On tour, On stage, On Air, On Internet, On Everywhere

Sam Dundas in Opera Australia's "Don Giovanni"

We could probably create a sister site simply dedicated to barihunks performing in Mozart's
"Don Giovanni." No other opera provides us with as much content and sheer joy. Fortunately, there are Don Giovanni's being performed around the globe and the casts are filled with some of our favorite singers. Moreover, some of them will be available for worldwide viewing. Oh, how did we survive before the internet age?

Sam Dundas debuted the role of Don Giovanni with the Victorian Opera in 2009 and has become a fan  favorite in the role. On Saturday, he kicked off a ten week, twenty-four city tour, apparently adding more sexual conquests to Leporello's catalogue. (We can hear the catalogue aria now: "In Queensland, a hundred and three! In Melbourne, a thousand and forty! In Wollongong, well we're not coming back to Wollongong!"). 

Visit the Opera Australia website for additional tour, cast and ticket information. 

Shigeo Ishino & André Morsch

Oper Stuttgart is presenting Don Giovanni with Shigeo Ishino as the Don and André Morsch as his sidekick Leporello. The performance on July 25th will be available three different ways to those who can't make the actual performance. The opera will be broadcast throughout Germany on SWR television, streamed on the internet at 3sat and broadcast into the public plaza outside of the opera house. 

Erwin Schrott & Christopher Maltman

Barihunks Christopher Maltman and Erwin Schrott have taken their successful Salzburg Festival portrayal of Don Giovanni and Leporello to Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Also, check out our previous post about Erwin Schrott and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sharing the title role in Verona, as well as the free NY Philharmonic performance of the Act 1 finale that available for free on Medici.tv that features three barihunks. There are also productions in Des Moines, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Savonna and Lacoste. 

Watch the trailer of the Claus Guth production with lots of sexy Shrott & Maltman:

A behind the scenes look at the Unter den Linden production featuring Erwin Schrott:

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo First Don Giovanni in 90 Years at Verona; New Recording with Pisaroni and Wolff

We were amazed to learn that the new Zeffirelli production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Arena di Verona was the first performance of the opera at that venue in ninety years! The opening cast featured barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in the title role, which he will turn over to fellow barihunk Erwin Schrott on July 12 and 18. D'Arcangelo performs the role on June 29 and July 6 and 25.

The season will continue with some of the more regular staples of their repertory, Aida, Carmen, Roméo et Juliette, Turandot  and Tosca. Visit the Arena di Verona website for additional information.

D'Arcangelo is also coming out with a new recording of the opera with an all barihunk cast. He's joined by the Leporello of Luca Pisaroni and the Masetto of Konstantin Wolff. The Deutsche Grammophon recording is scheduled for release on September 7, 2012.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Celebrating the birthday of Gioachino Antonio Rossini with Barihunks Thomas Hampson, Nathan Gunn, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and Randal Turner

Thomas Hampson sings "Sois immobile" from Guillaume Tell:


 Nathan Gunn & John Osborn sing "All'idea di quel metallo"

 Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sing Assur's aria "Quei Numi furenti" from Semiramide

Randal Turner performing Mosè in Egitto:

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

What could we possibly say about Mozart that either hasn't been said or you don't know already? Born on January 27, 1756, he was a child prodigy, who wrote his first symphony when he was eight years old and his first opera at age twelve. He went on to write some of the most important masterpieces of the Classical era, including symphonies, operas, string quartets and piano music. Of course, he has been an endless source of material for Barihunks, especially his operas Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte, which provide us with an ongoing stream of sexy low voices.

We think the best way to celebrate his birthday is with some music from our favorite singers:

Erwin Schrott sings "Madamina" from Don Giovanni:

Markus Werba sings "Hai già vinta la cuasa" from "Marriage of Figaro":

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo & Ruxandra Donose sing "Il core vi dono" from Cosi fan tutte:

Gérard Souzay sings "Deh vieni alla finestra"from Don Giovanni:

Simon Keenlyside sings "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" from the Magic Flute:

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Teddy Bare to Make Chicago Debut: Craig Verm Heads Barihunk Casting in Windy City

Teddy Bare aka Teddy Tahu Rhodes

The Lyric Opera of Chicago has released its 2012-13 schedule and two of the sexiest men in all of opera have been cast. Teddy Tahu Rhodes will make his Lyric debut as Stanley in a semi-staged version Andre Previn's "Streetcar Named Desire." There will be four performances, which will be made available to subscribers first before being sold individually. Renee Fleming will sing the role of Blanche Dubois. There will also be a single students-only performance with an understudy cast.

Fans of Teddy Bare will have other opportunities to see him in 2012. In the United States, he will perform Guglielmo in Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" at the Washington National Opera and will also return to the Metropolitan Opera. On the other side of the Equator, he will tackle his first Scarpia with the West Australian Opera and return in his signature role of Don Giovanni with both Opera Australia and Opera de Bordeaux.

Craig Verm as Aeneas

Craig Verm, who unquestionably has one of the nicest chests in opera, is one of the numerous barihunks cast next season. Verm, who has bared his torso as much as Teddy Bare, will be performing the unsexy role of Albert in Massenet's " Werther." However, with Verm playing Albert, we can certainly understand why Charlotte's mother wanted her to marry him and not the suicidal tenor.

For those who want to see Verm in some of his sexier fare, you'll have to travel to the Teatro Municipal de Santiago in Chile. He'll be performing in both Bizet's "Carmen" and the title role in Britten's "Billy Budd."

Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (L) & Bo Skovhus (R)

Although they've cast a good number of barihunks, none of them will be in roles that show off their non-vocal assets.  For those of you who like "more mature" barihunks, Lyric is rolling out some of the hotter over-40 singers around in some Verdi and Wagner.  

Craig Verm as Zurge and Sean Panikkar as Nadir in the famous Pearl Fishers duet:

Other barihunks appearing with Lyric next year include Bo Skovhus as Beckmesser in Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg," Thomas Hampson as the title character in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo in the title role of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" and Lucas Meachem as Marcello in Puccini's "La boheme." Visit the Lyric website for tickets and additional performance information.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Reuters: "La Scala seduces crisis-hit Italy with Don Giovanni"; Cast Loaded with Barihunks!

We caught his article about how the Italians are hoping that their new Don Giovanni will divert attention away from their debt crisis. When we saw the cast, which is loaded with barihunks, we wondered how Italians could think about anything else other than this Don Giovanni. Gotta love those Italians.

Kostas Smoriginas and Alexander Tsymbalyuk

(Reuters) - Milan's opulent La Scala theatre is hoping the seductive powers of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" can momentarily drown out the chorus of economic doomsayers in Europe when it opens its opera season next week.

Continue article HERE.

As we mentioned, the cast is full of barihunks and world-famous baritones. Alternating as Don Giovanni will be Peter Mattei and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. The role of Leporello will be alternated between Ildebrando d'Arcangelo and Bryn Terfel. Masetto will feature our "Johnny Depp" look alike Kostas Smoriginas, who will share the role with Štefan Kocán. Even the role of the Commedatore features the sexy Ukranian barihunk Alexander Tsymbalyuk, who shares the role with Kwangchul Youn. Tickets and additional cast information are available HERE.

LA Times: "Ildebrando D'Arcangelo wants to be more than a pretty face"

From his Deutsche Grammophon website:

“Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is a complete knock-out as Leporello – charming, funny, sexy, but pointedly in touch with his emotions in ways that his master can never be. What a difference a native Italian speaker makes in the role.”

The Independent

The Los Angeles Times is featuring an article on Ildebrando D'Arcangelo that thoroughly covers his status as a reigning barihunk. Although the Italian singer denies that he's thought much about it, we think his recording company, agent and publicist have given it plenty of thought. On his IMG Artists website the three pull quotes have him variously described as a "hunk," having "presence" and "looks," and, finally, being "an unusually sexy Enrico."

Check out his publicity photos and website that we've included in this post.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo: Trying hard to NOT look sexy

Here is the article from the L.A. Times written by David Ng:

When Ildebrando D'Arcangelo storms the stage in Mozart's "Così fan Tutte" at Los Angeles Opera, the bass-baritone singer projects a swaggering confidence and dangerous sex appeal that act like a powerful audience magnet. But please don't call him a bari-hunk.

The 41-year-old D'Arcangelo, who is one of six members of the "Così" ensemble cast, has garnered fans around the world as much for his voice as for his model looks — tall, dark and handsome in an earthy way.

Yet the singer appears uneasy with references to his status as a bari-hunk — the group of opera stars known for their pecs and neck size, as well as their deep, sonorous voices.

"To be honest, I'm uncomfortable," said D'Arcangelo when the subject came up during a recent interview. "I appreciate it if people say something about looking good. In opera, if you see a beautiful person, it helps. But for me, honestly, I never thought about it." [Read entire article HERE]

Fans in California can catch him in Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" at the Los Angeles Opera through October 8th. He then switches Mozart roles, tackling Don Giovanni at La Scala from December 16-28 before heading off to Weisbaden, Germany for a New Year's Day concert.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Hollywood Heartthrob: Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo: Shirtless and performing Cosi with Aleksandra Kurzak

If you're anywhere near the West Coast you'll know that there is a lot of baritone buzz going on. Most of it is centering on Thomas Hampson's performance in the 9/11 opera "Heart of a Soldier" at San Francisco Opera and the heartthrob Ildebrando D'Arcangelo taking on Guglielmo at the Los Angeles Opera. Now that "Heart of a Soldier" has opened attention is turning to Sunday's opening of "Cosi fan tutte" at the Los Angeles Opera. The all-star cast includes Aleksandra Kurzak, Ruxandra Dunose and Saimir Pirgu under the baton of James Conlon. Performances will run through October 8th and you can get tickets and additional production information HERE.We have to believe that someone in Hollywood has their eye on this potential matinee idol.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo's headshot and rehearsal photo from Cosi

Out West Arts recently published an interview with the Italian barihunk, which you can read HERE.

Listen to D'Arcangelo sing "Non siate ritros" from Cosi:



Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Subscribe to Barihunks by Email

Tweet

Don Giovanni back in Berlin

The amazing production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" directed by Roland Schwab at the Deutsche Oper Berlin is back for three performances on June 22, 26 & 29. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is back in the title role, but David Bizic is replacing Alex Esposito, the reigning Leporello in the world. The Masetto is the polish barihunk Krzystof Szumanski, who also appeared naked as an apparition in Macbeth. A reader send us this photo, which is allegedly Szumanski.

Krzystof Szumanski nude?

 Here is Ildebrando D'Arcangelo talking about singing Mozart from an RAI 3 radio broadcast:



Here are a few other photos from the Berlin production taken by Marcus Lieberenz.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Sports Rock Star Look

Steven Tyler & Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (photo by Uwe Arens)

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is sporting a new rock star look for his new album of Mozart arias. In a weird way it makes sense, as Mozart was like a rock star in his own day. We think that he might have the same stylist at Aerosmith front man and American Idol judge Steven Tyler. 


Here's his old "clean cut" look and his new CD cover. You can order the CD through Amazon by clicking on the widget to the right.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Subscribe to Barihunks by Email

Tweet

Happy Birthday, Antonio Vivaldi

Ildebrando d'Arcangelo & Antonio Vivaldi

The "Red Priest" was born on this day in 1678, so we thought we'd celebrate with this wonderful video of Italian barihunk Ildebrando d'Arcangelo recording "Dov'e la figlia?" from the opera Bajazet.



Vivaldi claimed to have composed 94 operas. Fewer than 50 titles have been identified, of which the scores of 20 or so operas survive, wholly or in part.

Ildebrando d'Arcangelo can next be seen at the current center of barihunk performances, the Vienna State Opera, performing Don Giovanni. Performances run from April 30-May 11. 

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Subscribe to Barihunks by Email

Tweet

Semiramide Anniversary

Juan Diego Florez & Barihunk Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

Here is a video tribute in celebration of Rossini's underperformed and underappreciated Semiramide, which premiered on February 3, 1823. Here is barihunk Ildebrando d'Arcangelo joined by Juan Diego Florez and bass Julian Konstantinov.



Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Subscribe to Barihunks by Email

Tweet

Begin 2011 WIth Two Barihunks

Alex Esposito & Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

You can ring in the New Year by listening to two incredible barihunks, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo and Alex Esposito, singing Don Giovanni and Leporello respectively. The performance is from the Vienna State Opera and will be conducted by Franz Welser-Most. The performance will be broadcast on BBC Three beginning at 6 PM GMT.

In the meantime you can enjoy Alex Esposito singing "Se vuol balare" from Le Nozze di Figaro:



Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Alex Esposito Continues as Reigning Leporello

Alex Esposito in Deutsche Oper Berlin's Don Giovanni

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni, Adam Plachetka as Masetto and Sylvia Schwartz as Zerlina  during a dress rehearsal of "Don Giovanni" in Vienna. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

 

Let's face it Alex Esposito has emerged as the reigning Leporello in the world. If an opera company is assembling a world-class ensemble, it seems like the hunky Italian is the first one called to play Don Giovanni's sidekick. The Vienna State Opera is the latest to call on the physically and vocally gifted performer. He will be performing opposite Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni from December 11-27. 

The cast also includes Sally Matthews as Donna Anna, Saimir Pirgu as Don Ottavio, Roxana Constantinescu as Donna Elvira and Adam Plachetka as Masetto. Tickets and performance is available at the Vienna State Opera website.

You can watch a rehearsal video HERE.  

Send your Messiah listings to Barihunks@gmail.com

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo's Sexy Don Giovanni

Barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is reprising his sexy Don Giovanni at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The contemporary production opened on Saturday to rave reviews. The production is popular in Germany, but would probably be met with howls of protest in the United States, as director Ronald Schwab alters the ending and adds graphic scenes of sex and violence.

Visit the Berlin Opera website for ticket and cast information.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com

Subscribe to Barihunks by Email