Jason Duika wrapping up young artist program with two shows

Jake Duika showing off his guns

Barihunk Jason Duika looks like he's squeezing in some gym time along with his vocal coaching during his five months with the Benenson Young Artist Program.

He recently reprised the drinking song "Ò vin, dissipe la tristesse" from Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet at the Yale medical schools conference on "Music and Tourettes."

This season with Palm Beach Opera he performed Dancairo in Bizet's Carmen with Zachary Nelson as Escamillo and Tobias Greenhalgh as Moralés under the direction of John De Los Santos. He also performed Dr. Malatesta in the family performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale. From March 18-20 he'll be singing the Wigmaker and covering Harlekin in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos. Then on March 29, he'll wrap up his time with Palm Beach Opera performing French and German lieder in their Liederabend. Tickets for both remaining shows are available online. 

On April 9 and 10, he will return to his alma mater, Alma College in Michigan to sing the title role of Saul in Handel's oratorio along with countertenor Bryan DeSilva and tenor Wilson Nichols.

Watch Christopher Dylan Herbert in all-star "Saul"

Christopher Dylan Herbert (far left & right) and Anthony Roth Costanzo

As part of the Twelfth Night Festival in early January, Julian Wachner and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra presented a fully-staged production of Handel’s Saul. The title role was sung by barihunk Christopher Dylan Herbert, who possesses one of the most eloquent and richly beautiful baritone voices in the business. David is sung by the stunningly gifted countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and bass-barihunk Dashon Burton sings the role of the Ghost of Samuel. Rounding out the cast is Ryland Angel as Jonathan, Jessica Muirhead as Merab, Marie-Eve Munger,  as Michal and Molly Quinn.

Click HERE to watch the entire performance.

Christopher Dylan Herbert sining "With rage I shall burst his praises to hear!"

Saul is a dramatic oratorio taken from the First Book of Samuel in the Bible's Old Testament. The story of Saul focuses on the first king of Israel's relationship with his eventual successor, David; one which turns from admiration to envy and hatred, ultimately leading to the downfall of the eponymous monarch.

The work, which Handel composed in 1738, includes the famous "Dead March," a funeral anthem for Saul and his son Jonathan. The "Dead March" was played at the funerals of Winston Churchill and George Washington, as well as being played many times during the journey from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois of the body of Abraham Lincoln after his assassination.

You can next hear Christopher Dylan Herbert on January 22nd, when he performs a recital with accompanist Christopher Reynolds at Julliard's Morse Hall. The will perform music by Liszt, Shostakovich and Rautavaara. Herbert is also part of the Grammy-nominated ensemble New York Polyphony and you can check out their schedule online.