Barihunk quartet (and hunkentenor) in Zurich's Il viaggio Reims

Roberto Lorenzi (left) & Scott Conner (right)

The Zürich Opera's new production of Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims features a bit of skin as well as quartet of barihunks and an American hunkentenor.  The low voices include Nahuel Di Pierro as Lord Sidney, Scott Conner as Don Profondo, Pavol Kubàn as Don Alvaro and Roberto Lorenzi as Don Prudenzio. They join hunkentenor Spencer Lang as Don Luigino. The show opened on December 6th, but has seven more performances through January 9th.

Pavol Kubàn in Viaggio (left)

Spencer Lang in Viaggio (left)

We featured Scott Conner after he won the Loren Zachary Competition (using a shirtless photo!), Nahuel Di Pierro was in a Don Giovanni post, and Kubàn was a reader submission two years ago. Roberto Lorenzi is the newcomer to this site. 

Lorenzi studied at the Luigi Boccherini Institute of Musical Studies.He has been a prize winner at the Titta Ruffo and Riccardo Zandonai competitions, and took first prize in 2011 at AsLiCo’s 62nd annual competition, where he was awarded the role of Don Basilio Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia in Lombardy. He is a member of the Zurich International Opera Studio and debuted on the main stage as Priore in Bellini's La straniera alongside Edita Gruberova. In Zürich, he's appeared in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Il matrimonio segreto, La fanciulla del West and Rigoletto. 

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Scott Conner wins Loren L. Zachary Competition

Scott Conner

Baritones and basses continue to dominate vocal competitions, as bass Scott Conner took away the top prize at the Loren L. Zachary Vocal Competition over the weekend. Earlier this year, Conner won the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition. A District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Conner has been a finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, and was named a Gold Winner in Voice by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA).

He is an Artist in Residence at the Academy of Vocal Arts where he has performed the title role in Don Giovanni, Colline in La bohème, La Roche in Capriccio, Oroveso in Norma, First Man in the world premiere of Scarlet Letter. the Four Villains in Les contes d'Hoffmann, the title role in Verdi's Oberto, and Dulcamara in L'elsir d'amore.

Two other barihunks walked away with top prizes, as Eugene Brancoveanu and Wes Mason also won prizes. Brandon Cedel, who was an early favorite to win the competition, had to withdraw due to illness. Other winners this year included, mezzo Olivia Vote, soprano Chloe Moore, soprano Anush Avetisyan, tenor Viktor Antipenko, tenor Benjamin Bliss and soprano Anna-Lisa Hackett.

Scott Conner sings "Fin ch'han dal vino" from Don Giovanni:

A number of barihunks have walked away with top prizes at the Loren L. Zachary competition in past years, including Zachary Nelson and Brandon Cedel in 2011, Donovan Singletary and Jonathan Beter in 2010, Kelly Markgraf in 2009 and Matt Trevino in 2007.

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Breaking News: Barihunks win 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Lissner Competition

Scott Conner & Ricardo Rivera

Barihunks continue to take top prizes at international vocal competition, as Scott Conner, Steven LaBrie and Ricardo Rivera won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition. We hope that this string of victories lays to rest the internet chatter that barihunks are all looks and no voice.

Steven LaBrie

Two of the singers have links to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Conner is a third year resident artist and LaBrie is a fourth year resident artist. Rivera is a young artist with the Mannes Opera program

The Gerda Lissner Foundation was created by Mrs. Lissner, a Metropolitan Opera subscriber for 77 years, to provide young opera singers with the financial support they need to pursue their craft and excel in the world of Opera.  The three winners were awarded $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000. Barihunks would like to wish them continued success with their careers. 

The Grand Prize of $15,000 was won by tenor Paul Appleby.

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AVA's Mock "Vanity Fair" Photo Shoot

The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia featured a wonderful mock version of Vanity Fair's photo of sexy opera singers that included barihunks Mariusz Kwiecien, Nathan Gunn and Erwin Schrott. AVA low voices include Scott Conner and Wes Mason, who has been a regular on this site.

From left to right: Mariusz Kwiecien, Polish baritone; Maija Kovalevska, Latvian soprano; Rolando Villazón, Mexican tenor; Nathan Gunn, American baritone; Danielle de Niese, Australian-born soprano; Erwin Schrott, Uruguayan bass; Anna Netrebko, Russian soprano. Photograph by Wayne Maser; styled by Sarajane Hoare.

Just a few of the exciting artists AVA audiences can look forward to hearing this year.  (l-r) Alexandra Maximova, Scott Conner, Maria Aleida, Nelson Ebo, Wes Mason, John Viscardi, and Chrystal Williams (Photo by Paul Sirochman)

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