Michael Todd Simpson replaces Eric Owens in ‘L’Amour de Loin’ at Met

Michael Todd Simpson

Barihunk Michael Todd Simpson stepped in as Jaufré Rudel for Eric Owens on Christmas Eve in Kaija Saariaho’s critically acclaimed L’Amour de Loin at The Met. Eric Owens returns to sing the final performance on December 29.

This season, Simpson has performed at the Metropolitan Opera in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and returns as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen on February 15 opposite Clémentine Margaine. The other Escamillo is barihunk Kyle Ketelsen.

Simpson made his Met Opera debut in 2009 in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann in a cast that included Joseph Calleja, Kate Lindsey and Anna Netrebko. He followed those performances with appearances as Lescaut in Massenet’s Manon and Demetrius in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

From April 7-9, he'll perform the Pirate King in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance in a cast that includes Stephanie Blythe as Ruth, Andrew Stenson as Frederic and barihunk Tobias Greenhalgh as Samuel.

ALERT: FINAL DAYS TO ORDER YOUR 2017 BARIHUNKS IN BED CALENDAR BEFORE NEW YEAR'S DAY!!! 

 

Davone Tines premieres new Kaija Saariaho double-bill

Davon Tines in Only the Sound Remains (right)

Bass-barihunk Davone Tines is starring in Kaija Saariaho’s new double bill Only the Sound Remains, which includes Tsunemasa (Always Strong) and Hagoromo (Feather Mantle). The pieces are based n 14th-century Japanese Noh theatre works brought to the US by American art historian and Buddhist convert Ernest Fenollosa in the early 20th century and later pieced together by poet Ezra Pound. They are being directed by Peter Sellars.

The operas are scored for small ensemble of live electronics with acoustic sound and two singers — baritone and countertenor, who is famed countertenor Philippe Jaroussky. Both characters narrate encounters with the supernatural. Tines and Jaroussky perform the earth/spirit counterparts of the two pieces, the ghost and priest for Tsunemasa, and the fisherman and angel for Hagoromo.

Davon Tines sings Ol' Man River:

The Japanese Nôh theatre was born from the Buddhist idea that light is concealed largely in darkness, so as not to blind mere mortals. There is little action in Only the Sound Remains, which is meant to heighten the tension, concentration and symbolism.

There are performances remaining on March 27 and 29 and then it heads to the Finnish National Opera Helsinki, Opéra national de Paris, Teatro Real in Madrid and the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. Tickets are available online. 

Tines is building an international career commanding a broad spectrum of opera and concert performances. Recent performances include programs of Bach and Rameau at Alice Tully Hall, the U.S. premiere of Meanachem Zur's Cartoons at Lincoln Center and Matthew Aucoin's new opera Crossing, which we featured on the site. He is a 2009 graduate of Harvard College and received a Masters degree in voice from The Juilliard School in 2013.

Justin Hopkins to perform "Composers & The Voice" in NY

Justin Hopkins, who was one of our 2012 Charity Calendar models, will perform as part of the American Opera Projects six scenes from "Composers & The Voice." The performances are on Friday, September 7 and Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 7:30PM, at South Oxford Space in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Scenes include "The Waiting Woman" by Ronnie Reshef, "Stop and Frisk" by Sidney Marquez Boquiren, "Companionship" by Rachel Peters, "Safe Word" by Robert Paterson, "Decoration" by Mikael Karlsson, and "Male Identity" by Zach Redler and Sara Cooper. The emerging composers were mentored by John Corigliano, Daron Hagen,  John Musto, Tobias Picker, Kaija Saariaho and Stephen Schwartz.

The composers will discuss with the audience what it takes to create new operas that range from topical subjects like repercussions from a stop-and-frisk incident to the dark humor of an emotionally delicate woman's relationship to her sentient baking dough. 

Joining Justin Hopkins will be soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra, mezzo-sopranos Rebecca Ringle and Rosalie Sullivan, tenor Brandon Snook and fellow baritone Jorell Williams.

The primary focus of "Composers & The Voice" is to provide composers and librettists experience working collaboratively with a group of singers on writing for the voice and the opera stage.  Participants meet in closed sessions from September to April to present and discuss new works composed specifically for the individual voices of AOP's Resident Ensemble. 

Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for students/seniors and are available at www.operaprojects.org or at the door.