Luca Pisaroni named Brand Ambassador for Via Luca

Luca Pisaroni (photo:Catherine Pisaroni)

Italian bass-barihunk Luca Pisaroni has been named the Brand Ambassador for Via Luca, a leading distributor of high-end authentic Italian men's fashion.

The company's website states, "The partnership between Via Luca and Luca Pisaroni could not be a better fit, considering not only the same name “LUCA” but more importantly the origin of both being proud of having an Italian heritage."

Under the terms of the deal, Luca Pisaroni will wear garments exclusively from the brands sold on Via Luca wear custom Italian textile suits during his performances. He will also help promote the Made in Italy initiative and the family traditions of many of the company's brands, which include the knitwear brand Alessandro Simoni, Bruli sportswear, Equipage trousers, Marfin grooming products, Laboratorio Del Carmine shirts, and Zamparini shoes.

Pisaroni can next be seen on March 25th at Carnegie Hall, where he will sing Argante in Handel's Rinaldo. The English Concert under Harry Bicket will lead an all-star cast that also includes Iestyn Davies as Rinaldo, Jane Archibald as Armida, Joélle Harvey as Almirena, Sasha Cooke as Goffredo and the amazing countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński as Eustazio. Tickets are available online.

Hunky Rinaldo with New York's operamission

Randall Scotting and Franco Pomponi

New York's operamission is continuing its ongoing series of presenting all 39 of Handel's complete  operas with Rinaldo on June 14 and 16 at Merkin Concert Hall. Conductor Jennifer Peterson will lead a full baroque orchestra from the harpsichord in a concert performance of the opera, which is based on Torquato Tasso's La Gerusalemme liberata. 

Barihunk Franco Pomponi will sing Argante and hunken-countertenor Randall Scotting will sing the title role of Rinaldo. They'll be joined by soprano Christine Arand as the Queen Armida, soprano Malia Bendi Merad as Almirena and countertenors Nicholas Tamagna as Goffredo and Andrew Rader as Eustazio.

Franco Pomponi sings Hamlet's drinking song (at the 2:00 mark):

Pomponi will be singing Prospero in Thomas Adès' The Tempest at the Hungarian State Opera from May 19-June 1. After he's done performing Rinaldo, Scotting will continue to work out at the gym in preparation for his first bodybuilding competition (and providing further proof that we need a Hunken-Countertenor site). 

Tickets for Rinaldo are $55 and $75 ($45 for students and seniors) and are available online.