Introducing Lithuanian Barihunk Romanas Kudriašovas

Romanas Kudriašovas (on the right with Bryn Terfel)

A reader in the UK has introduced us to Lithuanian barihunk Romanas Kudriašovas, who is a Young Artist at the London National Opera Studio. On November 28th, he'll be performing scenes from the Mozart/Da Ponte operas as part of the National Opera Studio residency at Opera North. The concert will be at the Howard Assembly Room at 7:30 PM.

On December 10th, he joins the great British soprano Susan Bullock for a candle-lit celebration of English song in St. Giles Cripplegate Church in London. The program will feature music from Vaughn Williams, Gurney, Quilter and Britten. Tickets are available online.

Romanas Kudriašovas and Giedrė Muralytė-Eriksonė perform Donaudy's "O del mio amato ben"

Romanas began his music studies at age seven playing the violin and piano. After initially studying choral conducting, he went on to study voice at the Music and Theater Academy in Lithuania  Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg and the Wales International Academy of Voice, where he received his Masters. 

He has performed music ranging from the Baroque to the 20th century repertoire, including: Elviro in Handel's Serse, Antenor in Rameau's Dardanus, Valens in Handel's Theodora, Mr. X  in Kalman's Zirkusprinzessin, Bill in Kurt Weill's Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, Lockit  in Britten's The Beggar’s Opera and the Sacristan in Puccini's Tosca opposite Bryn Terfel’s Scarpia.

Kudriašovas is fluent in English, German, Lithuanian and Russian.

Support the arts with one of these calendars. Our 2016 Barihunks calendar will fund a new non-profit to support young artists, commission new music and provide a vocal competition prize for baritone/bass voices. The Marco Vassalli calendar will help fund his US debut in San Francisco performing two songs to German texts from composer Clint Borzoni.  

 Click HERE to order the 2016 Barihunks Charity Calendar!

 Click HERE to enjoy 12 months of barihunk Marco Vassalli and support his US debut!

Sidney Outlaw's "Night on the "A-List" with Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton and Sidney Outlaw

We make no secret about our love for Sidney Outlaw. He's not only an amazing singer, but one of the smartest and most interesting people in the business. When we saw him on Facebook posting pictures of himself serenading R&B icon Toni Braxton, we asked him to tell us the story. Here it is in his own words:

"Toni Braxton is one of the greatest contemporary R&B singers of our time. When I was a child, she was one of the singers I looked to for inspiration. So, when I learned she was to appear to do a signing for her memoir at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles, I knew I had to be there.

I arrived early because I knew there would be a crowd gathered to see the iconic Ms. Braxton. I was right - not only were scores of her fans present, also at the store were several media outlets and the camera crew for her hit reality show, Braxton Family Values. I waited patiently in line for my turn to greet her. I watched as several fans attempted to impress her by singing their renditions of her songs.

Toni Braxton and Sidney Outlaw

When it was my turn to greet her, I told her about our mutual connection with the Lupus Foundation and of how she inspired me to become a singer. When she asked what I did, I informed her I was an opera singer and her eyes lit up. She asked me to sing for her. And she would not hear me sing any of her music. She wanted to hear opera! I sang the first verse of Mozart's "Deh vieni alla finestra" and she told me to keep going so I sang Stepfano Donaudy's "O del mio amato ben". Before I knew it, everyone in the bookstore was fixated on my voice - shoppers, fans, media, the camera crew, and, of course, Ms. Braxton.

She seemed to really enjoy my gift, and it was an honor to share it with her."