Two generations of young artists in premiere of Puerto Rican opera

Denis Sedov (Photo of left by Bogdan Tache) & studying the Verdi Requiem

Russian barihunk Denis Sedov is creating the role of Ledo Jiménez in the world premiere of Carlos Vázquez’s La mina de oro in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 6 and 7. The towering bass, who honed his skills in the Lindemann Young Artists Program at the Met, is not new to the music of Vázquez. He previously premiered his Requiem Domesticus at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico and one of the composer's song cycles.

La Mina de Oro is a 3-act opera with a libretto by José Luis Ramos Escobar, based on an original story by the composer.  The story deals with contemporary issues of drug violence, corruption, ambition, greed and love. For tickets call 787-792-5000 or visit TicketCenter online.

Xavier Edgardo

Also in the cast is Xavier Edgardo, a young artist who many people are keeping an eye on and who coached with Denis Sedov. He is wrapping up his studies at the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico where he was encouraged to hone his skills after being a standout choral performer. He spent two seasons at the International Vocal Arts Institute run by the esteemed Joan Dorneman, assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He is expected to continue his studies in the United States next year.

He has participated in and won a number of vocal competitions, include many in Europe. This led to him being invited to perform as a soloist with the Mundus Cantat Festival in Gdansk, Poland. He has also performed Mahler's Symphony no. 2 in C minor (Resurrection) with the Simón Bolívar Youth under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. He has participated in masterclasses with a number of great singers, including fellow Puerto Rican Justino Diaz, Sherril Milnes, Mignon Dunn and Elaine Ortiz Arandes.

Keep an eye on this site for information about his upcoming recital. 

Nathan Gunn Debuts Onegin in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Opera's Barihunk worthy banner

About a year ago we announced that Nathan Gunn was going to make his debut as the title character in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" at the Cincinnati Opera.  That debut is upon us, as opening night is on Thursday, July 14, with an additional performance on July 16. Gunn will be joined on stage by fellow barihunk Denis Sedov who is singing Prince Gremin. We have a feeling that these are going to be two special performances. If you haven't seen an opera in Cincinnati's Music Hall, this is a great excuse for a road trip. The opera house, which was built in 1878, is both an acoustic and architectural gem.

We also need to commend the Cincinnati Opera for their excellent website banner for the opera [see above].

After leaving Cincinnati, Gunn then takes the role of Onegin to the Opera Music Festival in Sigulda, Latvia on July 30 and August 2.

Nathan Gunn poster from Latvia

Here is the great bass Nicolai Ghiaurov singing Gremin's aria "Lyubvi fse vozrastï pokornï" (The gift of love is rightly treasured).




Here is Nathan Gunn singing "If Ever I Would Leave You" from Camelot:



Here is Sedov singing some bassa nova the Shablul Jazz Club in Tel Aviv, Israel. 

Pittsburgh Opera's Barihunk Tradition Continues

[Top photo: Barihunks Dan Kempson, Craig Verm & Liam Moran; bottom photo Liam Moran; photos courtesy of Pittsburgh Opera]

In January and February of this year the Pittsburgh Opera performed Benjamin Britten's opera "Rape of Lucretia" with their young artists. As always, Lucretia seems to attract the hunkiest singers around and Pittsburgh's production was no exception. Craig Verm cut a dashing figure as Junius, Dan Kempson a matinee idol Tarquinius and Liam Moran was a total stud as Collatinus.

If you missed this performance, the Pittsburgh Opera has some barihunks on their upcoming schedule. Matthew Worth will perform Figaro in the "Barber of Seville," Denis Sedov will portray Raimondo in "Lucia di Lammermoor," and Craig Verm will be back as Ping in "Turandot."
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"La Beau Hunk" on CD

[Top photo - Denis Sedov; Bottom photo - Christopher Schaldenbrand]

Two of the most stunning tall and handsome barihunks to emerge in recent years are Christopher Schaldenbrand and Denis Sedov. The latter has already appeared on this site and now we have an excuse to post them together. The two tall blondes appear together on a fairly new recording of La Boheme with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano.

La Boheme, or La Beau Hunk in this case, is rarely a barihunk role with the bohemians generally overdressed for the cold Paris winter. However, we can only imagine life in the tiny garret with these two studs. I'm not sure barihunk readers would have had a hard time keeping warm!

Christopher Schaldenbrand was born in Detroit and studied at Indiana University. He has already made Don Giovanni and Schaunard in La Boheme his calling card roles. He was twice a winner in the Palm Beach Vocal Competition, as well as the Greater Miami Opera Competition. The baritone was awarded a career grant from Opera Index and received the Pope Foundation Award.

Denis Sedov made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Colline in La Bohème after having been one of very few non-American singers ever invited to join the company’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development. He has since joined the company Orlick in Mazeppa and on tour in Japan for its production of Don Giovanni. With San Francisco Opera, he has sung Escamillo in Carmen and Achilla in Giulio Cesare. He made his New York City Opera debut as Argante in Rinaldo and has sung Assur in Semiramide with Minnesota Opera.

You can listen to Denis Sedov sing "Vecchia zimarra" by clicking on the Amazon link to the right.

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