Barihunks perform at Britten Centenary Celebration

Next weekend there will be a 2-day centenary celebration of composer Benjamin Britten's work presented by the 5ive Boroughs Music Festival. It kicks off on Saturday, October 19th at the Brooklyn Historical Society at 128 Pierrepont Street. There will be three concerts at 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM. The 4PM concert will feature barihunk Christopher Dylan Herbert in a program of canticles, the Hymn to St. Cecilia and Selected Purcell Realizations.

Other singers include tenor Alex Richardson, soprano Karen Wierzba, soprano Martha Guth, countertenor Geoffrey Williams, tenor Steven Caldicott Wilson, soprano Tami Petty, mezzo Eve Gigliotti, tenor Dominic Armstrong and tenor Kyle Bielfield.

On Sunday, October 20th, the celebration continues in Manhattan with barihunk Michael Kelly in both shows, which start at 1 PM and 4 PM. The 1 PM program includes Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Winter Words and On This Island. The 4 PM program includes Holy Sonnets of John Donne, selected French Folk Songs, excerpts from Who Are These Children, selected English and Irish Folksongs, The Red Cockatoo and excerpts from Juvenilia. Performances will be at the Baruch Performing Arts Center at 55 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Other singers include soprano Mary Mackenzie, tenor Michael Slattery, soprano Martha Guth, mezzo Naomi O’Connell and tenor Nicky Spence. Noted accompanist Malcolm Martineau will perform at teh 4 PM show.
 
Tickets start at $15 for individual concerts and are available online.

  
Who gets the money for the Charity Calendar? 

This year we're looking for originality on Facebook and Twitter. We'll consider any idea that involves young artists, not just young artist programs...video projects...recital ideas...you name it.

Most LIKES on Facebook and most retweets on Twitter will increase your odds of winning.  (Use #Barihunks2014). Post your comments to our Facebook feed with who you should think is deserving of the a charitable contribution and why.

"Sing for Hope" Turns Out The Stars (and a few Barihunks)

Chris Herbert with his Aunt Martha/Julie & Nathan Gunn (yes, he's married!)

There is nothing we love more at Barihunks than when singers are involved in good charities. No one does more than Chris Herbert and on Thursday night he was a key part of the "Sing for Hope" gala. The program raises awareness and need money for programs that benefit schools, hospitals and local communities.

Thursday's event also raised funds for the 2011 return of "Sing for Hope" Street Pianos, a public art installation that brought 60 upright pianos to the streets of New York, which we covered earlier this year.

Attendees included soprano Renée Fleming, Hugh Jackman, Nathan Gunn, Billie Jean King, Martha Stewart (Herbert's aunt),  pianist Chau-Giang Thi Nguyen, Roger Bart, mezzo Kate Lindsey, tenors Glenn Seven Allen and Michael Slattery, and pop legend Tony Bennett. 

We encourage readers of this site to support this great organization. Please visit their website and help make a difference. A gift of $25.00 provides six New York City students with an hour of dynamic arts and leadership education or brings bedside performances to five hospital-bound patients.