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.

Boheme's barihunk duo at Grange Park Opera

Nicholas Crawley and Quirijn de Lang

Grange Park Opera will have a Bohemian barihunk duo in their production of Puccini's La Bohéme that opens June 6 and runs through July 17th. Dutch barihunk Quirijn de Lang will sing Schaunard  opposite the Colline of British barihunk Nicholas Crawley.

Joining them in the cast are Susana Gaspar as Mimi, Gianluca Terranova as Rodolfo,  Kelebogile Pearl Besong as Musetta, Brett Polegato as Marcello and Nicholas Folwell as Benoit/Alcindoro.

Grange Park is also presenting Fiddler on the Roof with Bryn Terfel in the role of Reb Tevye, Eugene Onegin with Brett Polegato and Samson et Delila.  Tickets and additional production information are available online. Follow them on Twitter @grangeparkopera.

On October 18th, Nicholas Crawley makes his role debut as Bottom in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Klagenfurt Stadttheater.  In February 2016, he sings Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte at Nederlandse Reisoper.

Quirijn de Lang then heads off to sing Fred Graham/Petruchio in  Kiss Me Kate for Opera North from September 21-November 21. The production will be performed in Leeds, Newcastle, Salford Quays and Nottingham.

Another barihunk "exposed" at Nationale Reisopera's "Barber of Seville"; Meet British baritone Nick Crawley

We love when a post about a barihunk begets more barihunks, which is what happened when we ran a feature on Peter Bording's run as the title character in Rossini's Barber of Seville at the Nationale Reisopera. Not only that, but we learned about the sexy set and costume designer Gary McCann, who will drive our ginger lovers into fits of frenzy.

It's not often that the role of Basilio makes it onto Barihunks, but former tenor and director Laurence Dale has made him the sexiest character in the opera. We were sent these tantalizing pictures of British barihunk Nick Crawley with the "3 Bertas," a novel concept that looks like loads of fun.

Crawley, who is new to this site, is a member of the ensemble at the Nationale Reisopera where he's also singing Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen, three roles in Purcells The Fairy Queen and the bass part of Bach's St. John Passion. Crawley was born in Buckinghamshire and started his musical career at St. Albans Cathedral Choir where he was head chorister. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and completed the Royal Academy Opera Advanced Diploma course.  Nicholas won a place on the Concordia ensemble 2010 and was awarded The Independent Opera Vocal Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music 2012.

Gary McCann & the 3 Bertas

And for you lovers of great beards and all things ginger, we present costume and set designer Gary McCann and his red-headed Bertas - Zinzi Frohwein, Sonja Volten and Ruth Willemse.

Redhead Jonathan Estabrooks as he appears in the 2014 Barihunks Calendar

Have you purchased your Barihunks Charity Calendar? The holiday shopping season is kicking into full gear next week, so order NOW by clicking the Lulu button below.

Peter Bording goes from barber to dictator

Peter Bording

They're a couple of productions of Rossini's Barber of Seville going on around the world right now, most prominently in San Francisco and Turin. But the production in the Netherlands at De Nationale Reisopera caught our eye. It stars Dutch barihunk Peter Bording in the title role.

The colorful and witty production is directed by former tenor Laurence Dale, who now frequently directs at the Reisopera. Tenor Mark Milhofer sings Almaviva, mezzo Karin Strobos is Rosina, the brilliant internationally acclaimed Italian baritone Bruno Praticò performs his signature role of Dr. Bartolo and Nicholas Crawley and Bora Balçi take on  Basilio and Fiorello. Go online to get your tickets. Click HERE to listen to a snippet from "Dunque io son."

Peter Bording and Milica Jovanovic

Three days after the runs ends on November 26th, he switches back to his other love, musical theater, as he portrays Juan Perón in a German language production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germanay. Evita is sung by the stunning Milica Jovanovic. Tickets are extremely limited, so go online now if you want to see Bording in one of his specialty roles. Performances run through February 5th. 

Gianluca Margheri as he appears in the Barihunks Calendar

Have you purchased your Barihunks Charity Calendar? The holiday shopping season is kicking into full gear next week, so order NOW by clicking the Lulu button below. 

Peter Brathwaite premieres opera to mark 150th anniversary of abolition of slavery in Dutch Colonies

Peter Brathwaite in Katibu di Shon

When we last featured British barihunk Peter Brathwaite, he was modeling Dockers for their "Men of Style" campaign. For those of us who love him as a performer, as well as a model, we're thrilled to announce that he's back on the stage today opening in a new opera.

Tania Kross,  Jeroen de Vaal and Peter Brathwaite rehearsing Katibu di Shon

Brathwaite is at the Nationale Reisopera in The Netherlands for Randal Corsen's new 70-minute opera Katibu di Shon. The opera is based on the novel Slave and Master, an “histoire perfumée” by Carel de Haseth, which tells the story of Wilmu a slave owner, and slave Luis, two boys growing up together who both have feelings for the slave girl Anita. This triangle ends up in a confrontation between the two boys, and between slave and master.

The premiere will take place at Amsterdam's Stadsschouwburg in front of the new King of The Netherlands and marks the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Dutch Colonies.