Nmon Ford

I'm a fairly regular attendee of the Spoleto Festival, but somehow I missed Nmon Ford as Don Giovanni. From what I've heard, it was one of the steamiest Don's to be seen on stage in some time. Well, at least there are photos!

Nmon Ford was born in Panama and has already made his mark in the barihunk speciality roles of the aforementioned Don, Billy Budd, Samson and Jochanaan. If we want to see more his pulchritude, we need to get him cast in Dead Man Walking, Pearl Fishers and Streetcar Named Desire. Although still early in his career, he has already shared a Grammy Award for his participation on Bolcom's "Songs of Innocence and of Experience"

Blessed with a voice as beautiful as his body, he won First Place in the Liederkranz Foundation of New York Wagner Competition, as well as prizes from the Gerda Lissner Foundation and the George London Foundation. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the University of Southern California where he graduated cum laude, and was named Outstanding Vocal Arts Graduate, for both degrees.

Smart and sexy. Now that's hot!

Christopher Job

Southern California native Christopher Job is currently Frere Laurent in the Minnesota Opera production of Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" opposite the equally stunning Romeo of James Valenti and Juliet of Ellie Dehn. If you don't believe that good looks are playing a greater role in opera casting, then check out this production.

Job is the winner of the North Dakota District of the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 2007, and Second Place Winner for the Rocky Mountain Region in 2006, he is also the Grand Prize Winner of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition of 2005.

As with so many basses, he doesn't get many barihunk roles. He's been singing Count Ribbing in Un ballo in maschera, the Second Priest in Die Zauberflöte, Dr. Dulcamara in L'elisir d'amore, Zuniga in Carmen, and Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail and the Commendatore in Don Giovanni.

Maybe we need to get him working with some German directors, so we can see him looking more like Günther Groissböck.

Shirtless Teddy Tahu Rhodes Doing Push Ups

This speaks for itself!

Randal Turner: Most Popular Barihunk

I just checked my blog stats and Randal Turner is by far the most popular barihunk, passing Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Nathan Gunn. His page views are more than double that of "Teddy Bare" and "Top Gunn."

"Hi-Ho, Escamillo...and away!"

Readers owe a giant "Thank You" to a Barihunks reader in Australia who forwarded this picture of Michael Todd Simpson cutting a strapping figure as Escamillo. The 6' 4" barihunk is singing in Bizet's "Carmen" at the Sydney Opera House and apparently is leaving poor Don Jose in the dust.

Jean-François Gardeil

OK, for all of you who like 'em a little bigger and brawnier, meet French bass Jean-François Gardeil. He has made a name for himself singing baroque music, but has venured out to sing the lyric repertoire in recent years. He is probably best known for his performance on the recording of Rameau's "Atys."

Gardeil was born in France and studied voice at the l'Université de Toulouse. He went on to win a number of voice competitions.

His barihunk role is Frederic in Lakme and possibly Gendarme in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, depending on the production.

He is beginning a career as a teacher. Anyone need voice lessons?

A steamy Michael Todd Simpson as Silvio

You can find this barihunk at about 1:44 of this video. I'd recommend skipping ahead, unless you want to watch Marty Feldman's long lost brother sing verismo.