The Dilemma over Crossover Barihunks

Nicky Wuchinger (left) and Jan-Philipp Rekeszus (right)

We're usually pretty clear about our mission at Barihunks, which is to promote baritones (down to bass) who take great care of their voices as well as their bodies. Generally, that has meant operatic baritones, but occasionally those lines get blurred. Take the cases of Ramin Karimloo, Doug Carpenter and Seph Stanek, three of the most popular singers to have appeared on this site. All three were trained as operatic baritones, but both have crossed over into other genres.

Paulo Szot, Seph Stanke and Doug Carpenter

Ramin Karimloo has gone on to be one of the most heralded singers to perform Jean Valjean in Les Mirerables and the title character in Phantom of the Opera. Seph Stanek, who studied classical voice at Furman University and the L'Accademia dell'Arte, went on to have a career as part of the crossover group Figaro, sang on tour with the Twelve Tenors and even starred in Naked Boys Singing! Then there's the case of Paulo Szot, one of opera's biggest stars, who is probably best known for singing Emile De Beque in South Pacific, taking home a Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award the Outer Critic’s Circle Award and the Theater World Award.

That brings us to Jan-Philipp Rekeszus and Nicky Wuchinger, two German singers with operatic pedigree who are making their mark in operetta and musical theater. Wuchinger was a finalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition when fellow barihunk Doug Carpenter took away the top prize. Carpenter has also successfully "crossed over" starring in the national tour of Dirty Dancing.

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Rekeszus and Wuchinger are mentioned in a new article by Kevin Clarke entitled "Eyes Wide Open: A New Generation of Operetta Superstars?." He even refers to Rekeszus as a barihunk, although upon listening to the two singers we'd be compelled to call them bari-tenors, much like Karimloo. Clark imagines Rekeszus as ideal for Wiener Blut or The Merry Widow, and points out the Wuchinger was hired to sing in Eduard Künneke’s operetta Der Vetter aus Dingsda.

Wuchinger and Rekeszus bothe studied voice at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. Wuchinger went on to embark on a successful career singing in Cats, The Who's Tommy, Phantom of the Opera and Hairspray. Rekeszus has made his mark performing in Hair and Bye, Bye, Birdie.

We'd love your thoughts on us featuring crossover artists on the site. However, if our statistics are any indication, we think that we know the answer, as posts about Karimloo, Stanek and Carpenter remain some of the most trafficked on the site.  Feel free to email us at Barihunks@gmail.com or leave a comment below. 

Seph Stanek appearing in Ruddigore this weekend

Seph Stanek in Ruddigore (right)

If you want to start off November on the right foot, head over to New York University where barihunk Seph Stanek is appearing in Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore. There will be three performances this weekend at the Skirball Center for the Peforming Arts featuring the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (matinee and evening on Saturday, and matinee on Sunday).

Stanek made his debut with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players in 2012 as the Headsman in The Yeomen of the Guard, and subsequently appeared in The Mikado with the company.

Trained as an operatic baritone, Stanek appeared in Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, but has since focused his career in musicals and television. He appeared off-Broadway in Naked Boys Singing!, Little House on the Ferry and 8Minute Musicals; as well as HBO's Boardwalk Empire and Mildred Pierce.

Tickets for Ruddigore are available online.

If you want to enjoy 19 other singers who are sexy as Seph Stanek, order you 2015 Barihunks Charity Calendar today by clicking on the LULU button below.

Seph Stanek puts on some clothes for Yeoman

Seph Stanek in Naked Boys Singing

Seph Stanek, who has been appearing in Naked Boys Singing at the Kirk Theater, is going to put on some clothes and join the cast of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players. He'll be performing the Headsman in The Yeomen of the Guard, which runs from January 18-20. Tickets are available online.

The buff singer, actually trained to sing opera but has done virtually everything in his young career, including appearing on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, performing with the all-male classical-crossover quartet Figaro, and performing with Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Trisha Yearwood, Carol Channing, Debbie Reynolds, Brooke Shields, and Sandi Patty.

His opera credits include Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte with Spartanburg Opera, the Baron in Verdi's La traviata with Lyrique-en-mer, the Notary in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with Furman Opera and a soldier in the Met's Aida. He also was a lead singer during the American and International tour of "Twelve Irish Tenors."

Enjoy Seph Stanek singing Rubber Ducky in his rub a dub dub tub:

 

Naked Barihunk Singing: Seph Stanek

Seph Stenak (seated front) in Naked Boys Singing

(Photograph: David Rosenzweig)

When we recently featured Seph Stanek on the site it created a mini-sensation. It turns out that the TV performer, off-Broadway star and opera singer has quite a posse of fans. One of them informed us that Stanek has joined the cast of the popular show Naked Boys Singing. The show is currently at the Kirk Theater on 42nd Street in New York City.

Seph Stanek in Naked Boys Singing promo photo

The 70-minute show originally opened at the Celebration Theater in Hollywood in 1998. The New York production opened a year later at the Actors Playhouse in the West Village. It closed after a 13-year run, but recently reopened at the current location. As the title states, the show features naked men who sing mostly gay-themed numbers about the male body and the love of the male form. We're not sure if Stanek is the first opera singer to appear in the cast, but we can tell you that the show has featured 71 performers, including two porn stars (Spencer Quest and Dean Markham). It's probably safe to say that's he's the first member of the Metropolitan Opera roster to appear in the show. Stanek made his Met debut in Aida last month.

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