Duncan Rock. Mariusz Kwiecien & Luca Pisaroni nominated for International Opera Awards

Duncan Rock & Dame Felicity Lott from the Musicians Benevolent Fund calendar

On April 22nd in London, the first International Opera Awards ceremony will be held at Hilton Park Lane. The global awards ceremony is kicking off with twenty-one categories, including Best New Production, Best Chorus, Best Conductor, Best CD, Best DVD, Best Rediscovered Work and even Best Philanthropist.

But we'll be watching three categories in particular, Best Male Singer, Best CD and Best Young Singer. Three of our favorite regulars on this site have been nominated, one in each category. Italian bass-barihunk Luca Pisaroni has been nominated for Best Male Singer and his category is open to a vote of the public. You can vote HERE (and don't you dare vote for anyone else!). Barihunk Calendar model and opera sex symbol Duncan Rock has been nominated for Best Young Singer. Mariusz Kwiecien has been nominated for Best CD for his Slavic Arias recording.

The awards are the work of British opera patron Harry Hyman and the the British magazine Opera.  The magazine asked its contributors and readers to submit nominees for the ten judges to choose from.

Luca Pisaroni & Mariusz Kwiecien

Although it's dubbed an international competition, it's clear that it is heavily skewed towards the U.K. and mainland Europe. In fact, David Gockley, the general director of the San Francisco Opera, is the only judge not based in Europe. None of the opera production, opera company, DVD production or chorus nominees are from the United States. Frankly, the Best Director category would make a lot of American opera attendees flinch with his slant towards Regietheater (or Opera Euro Trash, as its known as on the other side of the Pond).

We certainly want to encourage the success of the Awards, as the foundation running the program has noble goals.

Their primary objectives are to:

• Recognize the artistic talents of individuals within opera who have a financial need
• Provide opportunities to develop and display these talents
• Provide bursaries and grants to the identified individuals
• Support institutions that promote youth involvement in opera
• Seek private funds to help meet the Foundations objectives
• Continue to promote and educate the public in Opera
• Through the Foundation's Awards Ceremony provide a showcase for recognition of talented individuals

Nathan Gunn: Son of God

Nathan Gunn (right) to play Yeshua (Jesus Christ)

Fans of Nathan Gunn already think he's godlike, so it only seems logical that he was destined to play the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The San Francisco Opera just announced a delightfully ambitious season that includes Mark Adamo's "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene." The opera draws on the Gnostic Gospels, the Canonical Gospels, and decades of biblical scholarship to reimagine the story of the New Testament through the eyes of its lone substantial female character.

Nathan Gunn practicing his Jesus portrayal as Billy Budd

This opera will undoubtedly stir up some controversy, as it looks at the woman who Jesus loved in a whole new light. Mary Magdalene will be played by the Nicole Kidman-esque Sasha Cooke, so we can surely expect a non-traditional Mary-Jesus narrative. We can also expect to hear from the Catholic Church, so this opera will undoubtedly create some press controversy (and opera in the mainstream press is a good thing!). Kudos to the San Francisco Opera for taking a risk and challenging opera audiences and for bringing us an exciting new work.

Speaking of exciting new works, the San Francisco Opera is also presenting Nolan Gasser's "The Secret Garden" and Jake Heggie's "Moby-Dick." David Gockley and the San Francisco Opera family deserves special praise for bringing three new American works to the public in one season during difficult economic times when most companies are reduced to producing an endless stream of lackluster old war horses.

Marco Vratogna sings "Quei due vedesti?" from Simon Boccanegra:

Of course, no opera could survive without the standard repertory and the San Francisco Opera's 2012-13 season includes some great theater. Operas include Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi," Verdi's "Rigoletto," Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann," Wagner's "Lohengrin," Puccini's "Tosca," and Mozart's "Così fan tutte."

Christian Van Horn (left) and Philippe Sly (right)

A number of barihunks have also been cast, including the imposing Christian Van Horn as the four villains in "Tales of Hoffman," Marco Vratogna as Rigoletto, Morgan Smith as Starbuck in "Moby-Dick" and the exciting leading role/mainstage debut of Phillipe Sly as Guglielmo in "Così fan tutte." We've been predicting major stardom for the Met Auditions winner Philippe Sly and we're thrilled that he's been cast in a starring role on a major stage.

We're pretty sure that the San Francisco Opera is the opera hot spot for music lovers this year. Visit the San Francisco Opera website for tickets and additional information.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com