Reader Submission: French bass-barihunk Sévag Tachdjian

Sévag Tachdjian

A reader just spotted French bass-barihunk Sévag Tachdjian, who was peforming Alidoro in Rossini's La Cenerentola with Opéra de Tours. Tachdjian, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon is of Armenian, but grew up in Nice, France.

While studying French literature in Paris and journalism in Strasbourg, he devoted himself to singing and studied at the National School of Music in Lyon, France with the great French soprano Françoise Pollet. He subsequently joined for the Opera Studio of the Oper Köln, Germany, and the Opera studio of the Opéra national du Rhin, France, where he performed Marullo in Verdi's Rigoletto, Baron Duphol in La traviata, Sciarrone in Puccini's Tosca, the First Apprentice in Berg's Wozzeck, Spencer Coyle in Britten's Owen Wingrave, and Don Annibale in Donizetti's Il Campanello.

 Sévag Tachdjian & Carol Garcia sing 'Là del ciel nell'arcano profondo' from La Cenerentola:

In 2011 he was voted the  “Best Young Talent” by the German opera magazine Theater Pur. In 2012, he performed in Europea 3 & 4, by John Cage at the Holland Festival. In 2013, he made his Italian debut as Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen at the Montepulciano Festival. He won 2nd Prize at the 2015 “Concours international de chant de Canari” and at the “Internationaler Komitas-Wettbewerb” in Berlin.

He now heads off to sing Le Capitaine in Massenet's comic opera Don César de Bazan, which will be be performed at the Opéra de Reims, Théâtre Saint-Martin Paris and Le Théâtre de Saint-Dizier between February 27 and April 29. Don César de Bazan was the composer's first full length opera to be performed.

Rare performance of Thérèse by Jules Massenet with hunky Aaron Ball

Aaron Ball

This post is a series of firsts for us. The first time that we've featured the opera Thérèse by Jules Massenet. The first appearance of barihunk Aaron Ball on this site. The first time that we've featured an opera performance in Riverside, California.

For us lovers of everything baritone, Massenet wrote some amazing low voice roles, especially in Hérodiade, Werther, Le Cid, Thaïs, Manon and most notably in Don Quichotte (which was written for the great Feodor Chaliapin). When we saw the poster for Thérèse, the first thing that caught our eye was Aaron Ball and the second was the cast of one mezzo, one tenor and TWO baritones.

Thérèse takes place during the French Revolution and concerns a heroine who is torn between duty and affection, between her husband André Thorel and her lover, the nobleman Armand de Clerval. Although she had decided to follow her lover into exile, when her husband is being led to execution she shouts "Vive le roi!" (Long live the king!) amid the frenzied crowd and is dragged to her husband's side and marched to the guillotine.

Thérèse was first performed at the Opéra in Monte Carlo on February 7, 1907. Although it's been periodically revived, opera lovers today probably know the piece from a 1973 recording with the underappreciated Huguette Tourangeau under the baton of Richard Bonynge. The opera will be performed on April 24 at the Hole Memorial Auditorium at La Sierra University. Visit the school's website for additional information. This performance will be followed by one on Saturday, April 27 at 8 pm at Pasadena City College.

According to his bio, American baritone Aaron Ball has "one foot in the motion picture industry and one foot on the stage." He studied with tenor Kevin St. Clair, who also appears in this performance, as well as with baritone Douglas Nagel. He recently appeared in the U.S. premiere of Gabriela Ortiz's Camelia la Tajana at the Long Beach Opera. You can also catch him in Paul Bunnell's 2012 film, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X.

John Relyea: "Bass-baritone/opera hunk"

John Relyea: Bass-baritone/opera hunk

You have to love Nancy Guppy from the Art Zone show talking about barihunk John Relyea on the Seattle Channel. Guppy opens her segment with, "If you like opera or if you like really good looking men who can sing well..." Now that's an opening line!

Even the online teaser described John Relyea as a "bass-baritone/opera hunk."  
 

With teasers like those, we knew that this clip belonged on Barihunks, especially since the Seattle Opera remains one of our favorite opera companies. After all, they've brought us Mariusz Kwiecien, David Adam Moore, Jose Carbo and a host of amazing Seattle Opera Young Artists.

Relyea's segment begins at the 5:36 mark.

Seattle Channel Video can be played in Flash Player 9 and up

Relyea is performing Massenet's "Don Quixote" at the Seattle Opera through March 12. Visit their website for additional cast and performance information.


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David Adam Moore Sings Figaro on TV

The Many Faces of David Adam Moore

Barihunk David Adam Moore recently appeared on Seattle's KING Channel 5 to promote the Seattle Opera's production of Rossini's Barber of Seville. Moore rotated the role with Jose Carbo and both singers received rave reviews.

The Seattle Opera's next performance will be of Massenet's rarely performed opera Don Quixote with John Relyea as the title character. Performances will run from February 26 through March 12. For additional cast and performance information visit the Seattle Opera website.

Moore now heads to the Palm Beach Opera where he will sing two performances of Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte on February 25 and 27.



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Baritone Version of Werther in Montreal

Phillip Addis

Opera de Montreal will perform the increasingly popular baritone version of Massenet's opera "Werther."

They have cast Phillip Addis as Werther, who actually looks the part of the young, forlorn poet. Although the title role has generally been played by tenors, two recordings came out in 2004 featuring baritones in the lead. Both Luca Grassi and Thomas Hampson recorded the role with great success.

Performance begin on Saturday and run through February 3rd. You can visit the Place des Arts website or the Opera de Montreal website for additional cast and performance information. The opera company's website also included highlight footage of the performance and other multimedia features.

Here is Thomas Hampson singing the famous aria "Pourquoi me reveiller.":



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