Barihunk Dan Kempson announces retirement

Dan Kempson in A Streetcar named Desire at Townsend Opera

Barihunk Dan Kempson, one of the most beautiful voices (and bodies) in the business, has announced his premature retirement from opera. Here is his announcement that he posted on Facebook.

This has been the worst kept "secret" of my life, but many of you know that I'm "retiring from the stage" after I finish out my gigs this season. I haven't done any auditions for about a year, allowing my calendar to run out. I'm doing this for a number of reasons, which range from the professional (wanting to impact the arts/entertainment industry in a way beyond performing) and the personal (I want to see my husband).I haven't said anything on Facebook because I didn't have the next step in place yet. 

But, today I got the call! Starting next fall, I'll be getting my MBA at Columbia Business School! I'm excited and scared in equal measure. And I'm very relieved that I will get to sleep in my own bed, live in the same city as Zach, and go to school in Morningside Heights, my old MSM stomping grounds.

His remaining calendar includes Marcello in Puccini's La bohème with Madison Opera from November 13-15, Constellations at the Neighborhood House in Philadelphia in December, Ping in Puccini's Turandot with the Pacific Symphony in February 2016 and Marcello with the Bangor Symphony in April. 

MAKE SURE TO ORDER YOUR 2016 BARIHUNKS CALENDAR BEFORE THE HOLIDAY RUSH; 18 OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST SINGERS FROM 9 COUNTRIES.

Reader Submission: Brandon Coleman

Brandon Coleman

We've had two readers suggest that we add Brandon Coleman to the site and from the looks of that six-pack, he seems way overdue. He's currently performing the role of the Mandarin in Puccini's Turandot at the Opera Company of Middlebury in Vermont. Performances run through June 6th.

In 2011, he made his international debut as a guest artist singing the role of Sarastro in Mozart's Die Zauberflote with the Tuscia Opera Festival under the baton of Maestro Stefano Vignati. 

This season, he's been featured in The Beth Morrison Projects' The Difficulty of Crossing a Field National Tour, Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust with Tri-Cities Opera and Porgy & Bess at Syracuse Opera. Upcoming performances included Bartolo in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Kentucky Opera from May 20-24, 2016 and Ferrando in Verdi's Il Trovatore with the Hawaii Opera Theatre.

Previously he's appeared as Jesus in The Seven Last Words, Raimondo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Fred in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Angelotti in Puccini's Tosca, Ibn Hakia in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta, and Parsons in Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen.

Coleman, who is based in Washington, D.C., received his Bachelors of Music degree from the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music.