Barihunk Quartet making Lyric Opera of Chicago debuts in Don Giovanni

Ildar Abdrazakov, Brendon Cedel and Davide Luciano

Four barihunks will be making their Lyric Opera of Chicago debuts in the upcoming production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, which opens on November 14. Russian bass-barihunk Ildar Abdrazakov will alternate the title role along with Davide Luciano, while Brandon Cedel sings Masetto. Finnish basso Mika Kares also makes his debut with the company as the Commendatore after an impressive performance in Mozart's Requiem earlier this year with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

They will be joined by Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Donna Anna, Ben Bliss as Don Ottavio, Amanda Majeski as Donna Elvira, Matthew Rose as Leporello and Ying Fang as Zerlina.

Mika Kares

Don Giovanni was the first opera that the company produced in early 1954 in an effort to gauge Chicago's support for a new opera company. Needless to say, it was quite a success, considering the cast included Nicola Rossi–Lemeni as Don Giovanni, John Brownlee as Leporello, Eleanor Steber as Donna Anna, Léopold Simoneau as Don Ottavio and Bidú Sayão as Zerlina. The debut season also included Maria Callas performing her signature role of Norma.

The current production will be the company's eleventh performance of the season. There will be nine performances from November 14 through 8. Tickets are available online. David Luciano will perform on December 3 and 8, while Ildar Abdrazakov sings on all other dates.

"Prima Donna" Opens at New York City Opera Today

Rufus Wainwright, Randal Turner & Melody Moore

The New York City Opera is about to pull off an operatic trifecta when it opens Rufus Wainwright's debut opera "Prima Donna" today at 1:30 PM EST. The opera was originally supposed to make its New York debut at the Metropolitan Opera, but they wouldn't schedule it until 2014. So Wainwright took it across the plaza (which is now at BAM, but that's a whole different story). Not only is City Opera winning the battle over "Prima Donna," but both rising superstar Melody Moore and barihunk sensation Randal Turner will be making their debuts with City Opera before they step on the Met stage. These are two singers who are not to be missed on stage, as they both combine great singing with amazing dramatic instincts.

Someone better call Peter Gelb at the Met!

The opera is making its much-awaited U.S. debut after runs at the Manchester International Festival, Sadler’s Wells and Toronto’s Luminato Festival.

The story of Prima Donna revolves around an aging opera singer who is attempting to revive her career amidst self-doubt, failed romance and crippling loneliness. The opera, sung in French, is set in Paris, 1970. The story is very much inspired by Maria Callas' later years in Paris where she was known to lock herself inside her room and listen to old opera recordings.

We wish everyone well on opening day!



Performances run through February 25 and all remaining tickets are just $25. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

NY Times' Zachary Woolfe: "What is Charisma?"

Dmitri Hvorostovsky

In yesterday's New York Times, Zachary Woolfe asked the question "What is charisma? A gift from the musical gods." He mentions many of the great sopranos of recent times, including Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Natalie Dessay and Catherine Malfitano. The one barihunk who is mentioned is the indisputably charismatic Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Read the article and post a comment letting us know who else in the world of opera you find charismatic.

Russian composer Igor Krutoy and Dmitri Hvorostovsky collaborated on the video "Toi et Moi":



Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com