Kwiecien Impersonates Hvorostovsky

Mariusz Kwiecien did his best Dmitri Hvorostovsky impersonation in Sante Fe, sporting a mane of white hair much like the one that our beloved Siberian barihunk sports naturally. We think that the Hot Pole will age as well as his fellow barihunk.

Scott Cantrell of the Dallas Morning News wrote:

Mariusz Kwiecien, reprising the role he sang in the 2002 Dallas Opera Figaro, is certainly a virile Almaviva, with a dapper baritone to match. But here's where I part company with Mr. Kent, estimable theater director though he is. Almaviva might be a "mere" count, but surely he would express his randiness more subtly than in these crude gropings of naughty parts.

We'd like to know more about those crude gropings of naughty parts and does anyone have pictures?

"Teddy Bare" Puts His (Terence) Stamp on "Billy Budd"

The pictures are finally in from Teddy Tahu Rhodes' debut in Billy Budd in Sante Fe. Needless to say, he is getting rave reviews and looking rather cute in his sailor's outfit. A reviewer at RedOrbit even likened him to the original from the movies.

And while vocal suitability should always be first and foremost in the casting of any opera, it must be said, he looks the part splendidly, not unlike the young Terence Stamp who played the role in the 1962 film version of the story.

His final, "Farewell to ye, old Rights of Man" is the emotional peak of the production.

Barihunks Blog in the News

The Sante Fe New Mexican gave Barihunks a nice mention in a news brief that they did on Teddy Tahu Rhodes, who is about to burn up the desert stage in Benjamin Britten's "Billy Budd." Here's what they wrote:

Speaking of Rhodes, he's one of the stars of the singing world featured on www.barihunks.blogspot.com, dedicated to all things hunky and baritone. To get an idea of Rhodes' sizzle, a June feature on him in Opera News was entitled Too Darn Hot!

Torn from his career as an accountant, Rhodes had to be encouraged to make the leap into singing fulltime — and he's a bit embarrassed at the attention his physique has drawn. "What can I say? It's taken on a life of its own," he told Opera News. "The roles I've become known for have tended to show me in undershirts. And I do spend a lot of time in the ocean back home, though I'm not a surfer, trust me. I also work out a lot — more than most opera singers, I suppose. Ultimately, though, you've got to be able to sing."

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/El-Mitote--7-13-08

It's HOT in Sante Fe

[Top to Bottom: Former Sante Fe Apprentice member Christopher Bolduc; The "Hot Pole," Mariusz Kwiecien; the brilliant Luca Pisaroni; Barihunks all-time most viewed singer "Teddy Bare," Teddy Tahu Rhodes]

The Sante Fe Opera is known for a lot of things: great performances of Richard Strauss, innovative world premiers, a glorious natural setting and a roster full of good looking singers. This season proves to be no exception and two operas stand out in particular. The Marriage of Figaro will feature both Mariusz Kwiecien and Luca Pisaroni. Barihunks favorite Billy Budd will feature mega-barihunk Teddy Tahu Rhodes, who is featured in the new Opera News in an article titled "Too Darn Hot." Of course, Billy Budd invariably features some skin, so this is the performance not to miss.

You can check out the full season here: http://www.santafeopera.org/