Indiana University to perform Menotti rarity, The Last Savage

Robert Gerold in The Last Savage (left)

One of the most enjoyable opera productions that we've ever witnessed was Ned Canty's production of Menotti's The Last Savage at the Santa Fe Opera in 2011 featuring barihunk Daniel Okulitch. The comedic opera was premiered around the time of John F. Kennedy's assassination and the country was in no mood for light-hearted fare, rendering the opera to virtual obscurity.

There have been occasional revivals with big names singing the baritone lead of Abdul, including George London at the Met in 1964 and John Reardon at La Fenice later that year. Reardon reprised the role with the Hawaii Opera Theater a decade later, but the opera quickly disappeared from the repertory.

The story revolved around a young anthropology student named Kitty, who becomes quite enamored of a captured savage named Abdul and decides to keep him for herself.

The Santa Fe Opera production caused many people to reconsider its box office appeal, as it was the surprise hit of the Summer. Now Indiana University is reviving the production with two of their sexy barihunk students, who appear on stage for much of the opera in loin cloths. Robert Gerold will perform on November 14 and 21, while Eric Smedsrud takes on Abdul on November 15 and 20.

Eric Smedsrud

Eric Smedsrud is making his Indiana University opera debut as Abdul. The Minnesota native recently completed his undergraduate studies in Vocal Performance at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wis.  Recent roles include Frank Maurrant in Weill's Street Scene and Sam in Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti at Lawrence University, as well as Herr Fluth in Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor with Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Weimar, Germany. He is a first-year master’s student studying with Robert Harrison.

Robert Gerold is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance as a junior at the Jacobs School of Music. In April 2014, he premiered the dual roles of Retrograde/Asher in New Voices Opera's premiere of Eric Lindsay's Cosmic Ray and the Amazing Chris. Last summer, as part of the Oberlin in Italy Summer Program, Gerold performed the title role in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. He is a student of Andreas Poulimenos.

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"Certified Barihunk" Ryan Kuster takes on Don Giovanni

Opera Memphis' Facebook page and Ryan Kuster as Don Giovanni at Wolftrap

We love that Opera Memphis is referring to Ryan Kuster as a "certified Barihunk" on their Facebook page. Having seen the young American baritone in a number of roles, we can certainly verify the certification. 

Kuster, who has performed all three baritone roles in Mozart's Don Giovanni, is currently singing the title role at Opera Memphis in a production directed by Ned Canty.  He recently made his symphonic début with the Los Angeles Philharmonic singing the role of Masetto in their highly acclaimed production of the opera, directed by Christopher Alden.

Opera Memphis is presenting performances on October 9 and 11 at the Germantown Performing Arts. Tickets are available online. (Unfortunately, the website does not list the remainder of the cast).

We're also looking forward to the company's Midtown Opera Festival in April 2015. The 11-day opera festival will include Tim Cipullo's Glory Denied, Poulenc's Mamelles de Tirésias and Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

After Don Giovanni, Kuster dons his matadors outfit for performances as Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen at Opera Grand Rapids and the Knoxville Opera.

Justin Hopkins part of "30 Days of Opera" at Opera Memphis

We have always maintained that some of the best opera happens away from the major houses at the second tier houses. One of the most innnovative opera companies is Opera Memphis, run by director Ned Canty, who won us over in Santa Fe with his brilliant work on Gian Carlo Menotti's “Last Savage.”

He is one of the leaders in bringing opera to the masses and attracting new audiences to the art form. His latest project is "30 Days of Opera," a month-long event of free opera performances performed at various public venues around the Memphis area. The 30 days will end in time for the company’s season-opening production of Verdi's Rigoletto on Oct. 3th and 5th.

During the first four days they performed at two parks, two libraries, Aldo's Pizza, City Hall, the Little Tea Shop and at the corner of South Main and Monroe.

 

As part of their promotion, Ned Canty appeared on WNEG Channel 3 with soprano Caitlin McKechney and barihunk calendar model Justin Hopkins, who walked onto the television set singing Escamillo's music from Bizet's Carmen. The Philadelphia native will be making his debut with the company as Ceprano in Rigoletto. Also in the cast is fellow barihunk Matthew Treviño as Monterone/Sparfucile, Michael Corvino as Rigoletto, Anya Matanovič as Gilda, Jason Slayden  as the Duke and Caitlin McKechney as Madellena. Tickets are available online.

Hopkins will be singing Nourabad in Bizet's Les Pecheurs de perles at the Fort Worth Opera Festival next spring with our favorite young director, John de los Santos.