Curtis Sullivan and baritone trio Bravura

Curtis Sullivan

We've been following Canadian barihunk Curtis Sullivan for some time, particularly in his sexy portrayals with Opera Atelier.

He's also part of a baritone trio comprised of Canadian singers called Bravura, which has been performing since January, 2010. The group is comprised of comprised of George Masswohl, James Levesque and Sullivan, who have varied experience in musical theatre, jazz, and opera. The trios repertoire ranges from classic Broadway and pop, to Italian folk and classical music.

They now have a Facebook fan page where you can keep up to date on their activities. 

Also, we should mention that there is big news from Opera Atelier, who are suddenly becoming a worldwide phenomenon,  with three trips to Versailles three times, as well as performances in Salzburg and Milan. We've learned that the San Francisco Opera is now in discussions with the innovative Canadian company to perform with them. We will have more details when they become available.

Barihunk Quartet in Opera Atelier's Persée

Olivier Laquerre (Méduse) left, Vasil Garvanliev (Phinèe) center, and Curtis Sullivan (Cyclope) 2nd from right Photos on left and right by Bruce Zinger

 

Opera Atelier has revived their critically acclaimed production of Lully’s Persée with four barihunks in the cast: Olivier Laquerre as Méduse, Vasil Garvanliev as Phinèe, Stephen Hegedus as Protenor/Divinite Infernale and Curtis Sullivan as Cyclope.

The company first staged the production in 2000, which was the opera's first fully staged production since it inaugurated the Royal Opera House at Versailles in 1770 during the wedding celebrations of the future King Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette. Their 2004 revival of Persée was the subject of a documentary.

Stephen Hegedus (right)

The Royal Opera House has invited Opera Atelier to bring Persée back to Versailles for the first time  since the 1770 performances. It will be performed on May 23, 24, and 25 after the current run at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. There are performances tonight, as well as May 2 and 3.

You can also catch Stephen Hegedus performing Bach’s Magnificat and Bruckner’s Te Deum with l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec on May 28.

Curtis Sullivan's sexy Pasha Selim at Opera Atelier

Curtis Sullivan Photo: Bruce Zinger

Photo: Bruce Zinger

Photo: Bruce Zinger

Curtis Sullivan Photo: Bruce Zinger

Opera Atelier, who we feel produces some of the most visually stunning opera in the world, is at it again with their revival of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio. The production stars barihunk Curtis Sullivan, who is a regular with the company and appeared in the original production.

We don't know about you, but if the Pasha Selim looked like Curtis Sullivan, we're not sure why Konstanze would want to be rescued. We also may have run off with the Pedrillo, who in this production is Adam Fisher, who we must confess could distract us from the low voices.

The opera also featurees Lawrence Wiliford as Belmonte, Ambur Braid as Konstanze, Carla Huhtanen as Blonde, hunkentenor Adam Fisher as Pedrillo and Gustav Andreassen as Osmin. Also featured are the Atelier Ballet and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under the baton of David Fallis. There are three performances remaining on October 30 and November 1 and 2.

Vasil Garvanliev

Also appearing with Opera Atelier this season will be Vasil Garvanliev, who appears as our September feature in the 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar. He'll be performing Divinité Infernale in Lully’s Persée, which will run from April 26 – May 3, 2014. You can order your calendar and help out young artists by clicking HERE. If you have suggestions for who should receive a charity donation post it on our Facebook timeline or Tweet #Barihunks2014. We will announce our first grantee later this week.

Barihunk Messiahs Abound

John Brancy

There are a ton of baritones making some extra holiday cash by singing Handel's Messiah over the next week. We would love to be in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina to hear John Brancy with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. There are four performances beginning tonight and ending on Friday, December 21st. The Tuesday night performance is already sold out, so get your tickets now. 

Curtis Sullivan as Neptune at Opera Atelier

A thousand miles north of Charleston, Curtis Sullivan will join the 100-member Peterborough Singers for the Messiah today and tomorrow at the George Street United Church. Tickets are available online.

Jesse Blumberg

San Franciscans are welcoming back Jesse Blumberg who is repeating his successful performances of the Messiah with the American Bach Soloists. Performance are on December 20. 21 and 22 and tickets are available online. Blumberg will return to the Bay Area on February 19th for the West Coast premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's "Green Sneakers." Tickets are now on sale.

Finally, here is a classic version of "The Trumpet Shall Sound" sung by Samuel Ramey.

Barihunks calendars are selling fast, so order yours today before the last minute shoppers get online. 

Another sexy ad campaign and barihunk-laden season at Opera Atelier

Opera Atelier's laterst  marketing photo

A recent conversation with the head of an American opera company included a lot of questions about marketing. He was a little surprised with the response that no company matches the Canadian baroque specialists Opera Atelier when it comes to creativity, appealing to younger audiences and making opera seem accessible. After all, they've taken operas that are over 300 years old and made them downright sexy and appealing. Best of all, the same high standard that they use in their marketing campaigns translates to the stage, where they produce some of the most visually stunning performances to be seen anywhere.

When we preach about opera companies needing to compete with television and movies, without compromising standards, Opera Atelier is the model.

Making Der Freischütz sexy

The 27-year-old company has done it again for their latest season, which includes Mozart's The Magic Flute and Weber's Der Freischütz. We don't think that we have EVER seen a sexy marketing campaign for Weber's most performed opera before now. What's even more amazing is that four singers who have appeared on Barihunks are in the cast, including Olivier LaQuerre as Kuno, Mike Nyby as Killian/Prince Ottokar, Curtis Sullivan as Samiel and the deliciously sexy Vasil Garvanliev as Kaspar.

Performances of Der Freischütz run from October 27 through November 3.

Jack Rennie as Love with Peggy Kriha Dye as Armide and Curtis Sullivan as Hatred in The Glimmerglass Festival/Opera Atelier production of Armide. (Photo Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival)

Their other production is The Magic Flute, which is an opera that is more often featured on this site. Usually the opera is featured because it stars one of the many adorable Papagenos singing the role today. Opera Atelier features Olivier LaQuerre as the tallest Papageno you'll probably ever see at 6'9" (2.06 metres). His Freischütz castmate Curtis Sullivan reappears as the Speaker along with João Fernandes as Sarastro.

Vasil Garvanliev: The world's sexiest Kaspar?

The Magic Flute will run from April 6-13, 2013. Complete cast information and tickets are available at the Opera Atelier website.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Vasil Garvanliev gets a new tattoo

Vasil Garvanliev (© Shalan & Paul)

There are few singers who photograph better than Vasil Garvanliev, who we discovered while he was singing at Opera Atelier. Of course, Opera Atelier has become famous for their sexy, provocative marketing campaigns that often features models in various states of undress. Even though they use models, they seem to hire singers who could double as models in their ad campaigns. In addition to Garvanliev, we've featured Olivier Laquerre, Curtis Sullivan, Phillip Addis and João Fernandes from the company roster. 

Although most of our news is about singing, we couldn't resist telling readers about Garvanliev's new tattoo which he had placed on his arm above the LOVE tattoo that appears on the back of his wrist. The photo below shows the design, the procedure and the final tattoo. We think it's pretty HOT. 

The Macedonian barihunk is a young artist at the Glimmerglass Festival this summer, which of course is run by the "Mother of Barihunks," director Francesca Zambello. Future appearances include Caspar in Weber's Der Freischütz with Opera Atelier and Pistola in Verdi's Falstaff with Calgary Opera.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Another Barihunk From Opera Atelier

João Fernandes

Few opera companies are better at Baroque opera or sexy opera than Opera Atlelier and they've done it again with Handel's "Acis and Galatea." A number of our favorite posts have come by way of this creative company, including those of Curtis Sullivan, Phillip Addis, Vasil Garvanliev and Olivier Laquerre. Now you can add João Fernandes as Polyphemus to the mix. Check out the guns on that man!


There are two performances of this production left and they are on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7. You can purchase tickets HERE.  Here is the trailer for the opera. You can hear Fernandes sing at the 1:40 mark:




Fernandes has made a career out of singing early Romantic and Baroque opera, including performances of Giove in La Calisto  at the Royal Opera House, Claudio in Handel's Agrippina at New York City Opera, Bellone in Rameau's Les Indes Galantes  at the Paris Opera) and Don Afonso in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte and Seneca in Monteverdi's L’incoronazione di Poppea at Lyon Opera).

Opera Atelier's Quartet of Barihunks

[Garvanliev, Laquerre, Sullivan and Addis & the Opera Atelier banner for Figaro]

Toronto's Opera Atelier is known for cutting edge baroque performances, sexy marketing and even sexier singers. The boutique opera company's latest offering is Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" with four certifiable barihunks, Phillip Addis, Curtis Sullivan, Olivier Laquerre and Vasil Garvanliev. All of them have appeared on this site before except for the youngest of three, Garvanliev. The Macedonian singer now resides in Toronto where he is wrapping up his graduate studies at the University of Toronto.

Garvanliev has been a child star in native country since the age of seven singing pop songs. He was a finalist in the Macedonian Eurosong Festival with his own original composition in February 2007. Here is a video of him from Macedonian TV:



The "Marriage of Figaro will run from April 24-May 1. Visit the Opera Atelier's wonderful website for more information.

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Curtis Sullivan

It looks like Neptune is carrying two big spears in the bottom photo. Stunning barihunk Curtis Sullivan sings primarily in Canada, but made his debut with the San Francisco Opera alongside barihunk Bo Skovhus in The Merry Widow. He may be the first singer to turn Mozart's Idomeneo into a barihunk opera.

Other barihunk operas that he's performed in are the Magic Flute, Carmen and A Midsummer Night's Dream. We look forward to seeing much more of this singer...much, much more.