Alex Esposito Continues as Reigning Leporello

Alex Esposito in Deutsche Oper Berlin's Don Giovanni

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni, Adam Plachetka as Masetto and Sylvia Schwartz as Zerlina  during a dress rehearsal of "Don Giovanni" in Vienna. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

 

Let's face it Alex Esposito has emerged as the reigning Leporello in the world. If an opera company is assembling a world-class ensemble, it seems like the hunky Italian is the first one called to play Don Giovanni's sidekick. The Vienna State Opera is the latest to call on the physically and vocally gifted performer. He will be performing opposite Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Don Giovanni from December 11-27. 

The cast also includes Sally Matthews as Donna Anna, Saimir Pirgu as Don Ottavio, Roxana Constantinescu as Donna Elvira and Adam Plachetka as Masetto. Tickets and performance is available at the Vienna State Opera website.

You can watch a rehearsal video HERE.  

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Christopher Richardson in Messiah

Aussie Barihunk Christopher Richardson

30-year-old Christopher Richardson has carved out a career down under specializing in baroque music. He will be performing Handel's Messiah at St. David's Cathedral in Hobart, Australia on December 17 & 18 with the Hobart Baroque Players & Chorus. Click HERE for ticket and concert information.

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Markus Flaig in Messiah

Markus Flaig

We're getting a lot of email from Germany lately that is introducing us to new singers. The latest introduced us to Markus Flaig who is singing the Messiah at the Johanneskirche in Gießen. Like Philip Cutlip in the following post, Flaig has excelled in music spanning three centuries singing everything from Renaissance madrigals to Benjamin Britten. The performances will be with Camerata Frankfurt on December 11 & 12.

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Philip Cutlip in Messiah

Philip Cutlip in Rape of Lucretia

Barihunk Philip Cutlip who recently scored a huge success with a 21st century masterpiece, Philip Glass' "Orphee," is going back three centuries in time and performing Handel's Messiah with the Minnesota Orchestra. Performances begin on Wednesday, December 8, with additional performances on December 9, 10 and 11. Cutlip will be joined by soprano Klara Ek, countertenor Brian Asawa and tenor Thomas Cooley.

Click HERE for tickets and additional concert information.

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Andre Schuen

We received an email from Germany informing us that barihunks Bo Skovhus and Christopher Maltman would be performing Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" and that Erwin Schrott and Simon Keenlyside would be perfoming "Le Nozze di Figaro" at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. Those performances will be in August 2011 and July 2011 respectively, so we have plenty time of time to cover it.



At the end of the email they asked us if we were familiar with Andre Schuen. They raved about his voice and incredible fidelity to the text. We thought that he was good enough and sexy enough to introduce him to the site. Let us know what you think at Barihunks@gmail.com.

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OperaNow! Needs (And Deserves) Your Vote

Click on Image to vote for Opera Now! podcast

Our favorite opera podcast is barihunk Michael Rice's Opera Now! podcast, which is fun, entertaining, informative and often provocative. Of course, we love that they regularly mention Barihunks, especially Keith Phare's "Ring Scandal." Phares frequently appears on the show along with an interesting mix of regulars that includes the serious and cerebral Oliver Camacho, the loquacious and opinionated countertenor Doug Dodson and Rice's sensible, tech savvy and gorgeous girlfriend Jenny Rivera.

Regardless of our biases, it's still the best music podcast around. In fact, they've been nominated for best Cultural/Arts podcast and we think that our fans should turn out and vote for them. Click on the "Podcast Awards" image above and it will take you to a site where you can cast your vote.

Michael Rice aka "Steamy Rice"

How could you not vote for this guy. Click now!

[Don't even think of scrolling down until you've voted]

You can contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com. Don't forget to send us your Messiah listings.

Todd SImpson's Messiah

Michael Todd Simpson

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will perform Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 15 with barihunk Michael Todd Simpson. The concerts are at 7 p.m. in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre.

Simpson will be joined by soprano Ann Monoyios, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Turnbull and tenor James Charles Taylor. Visit the National Arts Centre website for additional information and tickets.


Please send your Messiah listings to Barihunks@gmail.com