Miss me blond
From the technical standpoint San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd was pretty much flawless.
barihunk
Hope Chest
Barihunk John Chest headlines San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd in the fall of 2019.
Barihunks without causes
La Cieca regrets to say it’s time to step back from the gratuitous display of bare skin in opera.
Vo’ farmi più gaia, più fulgida ancora
“City Opera invites you, our fans, to march with the artists who create the operas you love.”
Ott and proud
“Baritone Jarrett Ott (bottom) in Philadelphia, with current boyfriend Adam Franklin (top)…”
Un Ravens kicker, ardendo di geloso furor
Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker may or may not be giving up his day job any time soon.
Juan and two
I always think of Don Giovanni as half of the greatest opera ever written. Or, actually, about 2/3 of the greatest opera ever written.
Change of pace
La Cieca has just heard that Joseph Kaiser, due to unforeseen circumstances, will not be able to participate in Sunday’s Voce recital.
West side, east side
Recently, opera showed up at both Mets, the Metropolitan Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Male fraud
Has Los Angeles Opera mentioned lately that Billy Budd has an all-male cast?
Bass-barihunk
“Richard Bernstein is a very good-looking guy, even with his clothes on.”
Montag mit Marianne
Our Very Own Marianne Leitmetzerin (pictured) has graciously shared a jewel from her vast coffer of recorded performances, a boon La Cieca hopes will become a regular Monday event here at parterre.
Beware the abs of March
The pictured Zachary Gordin is only one (or, at most, three) of the plethora of pinups provided by this year’s 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar, on sale now with all proceeds going to help support young artists and young artist programs.
A pair of kings
Opera Teen (pictured) approves of this summer’s program at the Glimmerglass Festival.
Leather underground
Putting in a little face time (and what faces!) at Charles Castronovo‘s cabaret at 54 Below last night were barihunk trifecta Erwin Schrott, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ildar Abdrazakov.
Opera pump
Happy birthday to baritone Zachary Gordin, cover boy for this year’s Barihunk Wall Calendar.
Desert fox
Karol Szymanowski’s 1926 King Roger was the sleeper hit of SFO’s season, not so much for its weird, mystical theme and feeble libretto but because the music is powerfully effective.
Le sigh
Prepare to swoon, cher public, as the Bayerische Staatsopera presents yet another of their hunk-o-rama webcasts, Eugene Onegin, starring Simon Keenlyside and Pavol Breslik.
Behind the red curtain
It was indeed a curious sensation making a late morning trek to East 59th Street, a block devoted to showro0ms for bizarre upscale furniture and lighting fixtures, and then to enter a boutique cinema specializing in Hindi films (the big coming attraction right now is Desi Boyz) — and all this before sitting down in […]
Stocking stuffer
Randal Turner, pictured above, is but one of 33 barihunks featured in—who ever would have guessed?— “the first Barihunks calendar,” just in time for holiday giving and receiving. All proceeds from the calendar, available at the Barihunks site, will be donated to young artist programs. (Photo by Sarah Wells)
Bringing Mariusz back
Good news, barihunk lovers! According to a press release from the Met, Mariusz Kwiecien will return to the stage for the title role of Don Giovanni on October 25, in time for the HD telecast October 29 as well as remaining scheduled performances through November 11.
Who is that masked man?
Peter Mattei will sing the opening night of the Met’s new Don Giovanni Thursday, replacing the injured Mariusz Kwiecien. Subbing for Mattei as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia tomorrow and Friday nights will be Rodion Pogossov.
Juan down
Barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien injured his handsome back during today’s dress rehearsal of Don Giovanni at the Met and was taken to the hospital, tweets Dan Wakin. As La Cieca writes this, Kwiecien’s cover Dwayne Croft is at the Met rehearsing the opera’s first act swordfight.
Northern stars
Winners of the seventh annual F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence, or, as they are colloquially known, the Opera News Awards, have been announced. Accepting the coveted “Effies” on Sunday, April 29 at The Plaza in New York City will be sopranos Karita Mattila and Anja Silja, baritones Dmitri […]
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
