Don Giovanni - On tour, On stage, On Air, On Internet, On Everywhere

Sam Dundas in Opera Australia's "Don Giovanni"

We could probably create a sister site simply dedicated to barihunks performing in Mozart's
"Don Giovanni." No other opera provides us with as much content and sheer joy. Fortunately, there are Don Giovanni's being performed around the globe and the casts are filled with some of our favorite singers. Moreover, some of them will be available for worldwide viewing. Oh, how did we survive before the internet age?

Sam Dundas debuted the role of Don Giovanni with the Victorian Opera in 2009 and has become a fan  favorite in the role. On Saturday, he kicked off a ten week, twenty-four city tour, apparently adding more sexual conquests to Leporello's catalogue. (We can hear the catalogue aria now: "In Queensland, a hundred and three! In Melbourne, a thousand and forty! In Wollongong, well we're not coming back to Wollongong!"). 


Visit the Opera Australia website for additional tour, cast and ticket information. 

Shigeo Ishino & André Morsch

Oper Stuttgart is presenting Don Giovanni with Shigeo Ishino as the Don and André Marsch as his sidekick Leporello. The performance on July 25th will be available three different ways to those who can't make the actual performance. The opera will be broadcast throughout Germany on SWR television, streamed on the internet at 3sat and broadcast into the public plaza outside of the opera house. 

Erwin Schrott & Christopher Maltman

Barihunks Christopher Maltman and Erwin Schrott have taken their successful Salzburg Festival portrayal of Don Giovanni and Leporello to Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Also, check out our previous post about Erwin Schrott and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo sharing the title role in Verona, as well as the free NY Philharmonic performance of the Act 1 finale that available for free on Medici.tv that features three barihunks. There are also productions in Des Moines, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Savonna and Lacoste. 

Watch the trailer of the Claus Guth production with lots of sexy Shrott & Maltman:

A behind the scenes look at the Unter den Linden production featuring Erwin Schrott:

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo First Don Giovanni in 90 Years at Verona; New Recording with Pisaroni and Wolff

We were amazed to learn that the new Zeffirelli production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Arena di Verona was the first performance of the opera at that venue in ninety years! The opening cast featured barihunk Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in the title role, which he will turn over to fellow barihunk Erwin Schrott on July 12 and 18. D'Arcangelo performs the role on June 29 and July 6 and 25.

The season will continue with some of the more regular staples of their repertory, Aida, Carmen, Roméo et Juliette, Turandot  and Tosca. Visit the Arena di Verona website for additional information.

D'Arcangelo is also coming out with a new recording of the opera with an all barihunk cast. He's joined by the Leporello of Luca Pisaroni and the Masetto of Konstantin Wolff. The Deutsche Grammophon recording is scheduled for release on September 7, 2012.

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Marie Claire Italia features Sexiest Men in Opera

Clockwise from left: David Fray, Erwin Schrott, Mirco, Mirco Palazzi, Stephen Costello, Noah Stewart & Jonas Kaufmann

Marie Claire Italia has a feature out on the sexiest men in opera, which includes barihunks Erwin Schrott and Mirco Palazzi, as well as tenors Noah Stewart, Stephen Costello and Jonas Kaufmann. (Astute readers of the site might have noticed that those three tenors have snuck into some of our posts and video features.)

They even threw in David Fray, who they seemingly just couldn't resist. As an aside, we had a conversation with a world renowned conductor recently who said that he's noticed that violinists and pianists who he's working with look increasingly like models from European fashion magazines.

Marie Claire makes the case that we've been pleading for years, which is that opera has to compete with Hollywood for audiences. They also mention the increased popularity of high-definition broadcasts of opera where audiences want singers who are believable and nice to look at on the big screen. You can read the entire article online. The article manages to throw in a little humor, as well, saying Schrott's only shortcoming is that he's unavailable because he's married to the equally stunning soprano Anna Netrebko.

Mirco Palazzi and some hot pool boys in Rossini's "Il viaggio a Reims":

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Erwin Schrott & Anna Netrebko Create Children's Foundation

Anna Netrebko, son Tiago and Erwin Schrott

We have a particular fondness for singers who use their celebrity for good causes. Few singers do more for humanitarian causes than barihunk  Erwin Schrot and his soprano wife Anna Netrebko. They stepped it up a notch this week when they announced the formation of the  "Anna and Erwin Foundation - Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott for Kids."

Schrott & Netrebko sing "Bess, you is my woman now..." from Porgy & Bess:

The two singers said that they want to use their popularity "to help children in need" and called it "a dream come true." The first projects to benefit from the foundation's support will be SOS Children's Village, a children's hospital in St. Petersburg, the Austrian charity "Unser Kind," and the Spanish foundation A.Va.Pa.Ce.


You can follow them on Twitter  @AnnaErwin4Kids

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Celebrating Charles Gounod's Faust, which premiered on this date in 1859

Erwin Schrott as Méphistophélès

Today we celebrate Charles Gounod's Faust, which premiered on March 19, 1859. We love the opera because it is one of a select group of operas that can feature three barihunks in a single evening. The roles of Méphistophélès, Valentin and Wagner are all cast with baritones. Méphistophélès is often cast with devilishly sexy baritones like John Relyea, Rene Pape or James Morris.

The opera got off to a rough start, initially being rejected by the Paris Opera and then not quite catching on with the public. It was revived in 1862 with a ballet added for the Parisians and became an instant hit. It has gone on to become one of the most popular operas in the standard repertory, opened the original Metropolitan Opera in 1883 and has been translated into 25 languages. It is currently the 35th most performed opera in the world.

Rene Pape sings Méphistophélès' aria "Le Veau d'Or":

The opera is loosely inspired by Goethe’s legendary story and timeless tale of the devil (Méphistophélès) who appears to the old scholar Faust, promising him the elixir of youth in exchange for his soul. Faust is transformed into a young, handsome man and sets out with his devious companion to experience the pleasures of the world. Faust seduces the beautiful and innocent Marguerite, only to abandon her before she gives birth to his child. Her reputation destroyed, but not beyond redemption, Marguerite calls upon the angels for salvation. Faust receives no such escape and is condemned to his devilish fate in this spiritual conflict between heaven and hell.

Gino Quilico sings Valentin's aria "Avant de quiter ces lieux":

Some of the greatest singers ever have taken on the role of Méphistophélès, including George London, Rene Pape, Sam Ramey, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Jerome Hines, John Relyea, Bryn Terfel, Boris Christoff, Jose Van Dam and Feodor Chaliapin.

Other famous operas based on the same story include Boito's "Mefistofele," Berlioz's "La Damnation de Faust," and Busoni's "Doktor Faust." Boito's opera is probably closest to Goethe's original story.

There was some concern when the opera first premiered, as French censors were worried that church officials would be highly offended by the appearance of the devil in a church. Gounod invited a concerned clergyman to attend a rehearsal of the scene. The clergyman declared that he found the scene not at all offensive and, in fact, was quite complimentary of it. The censors were mollified and the scene was allowed. Gounod never told them that the clergyman was blind and could not tell that the scene took place inside a church. The "Church scene" from Gounod's opera, in which Méphistophélès torments the already distraught and guilty Marguerite by telling her that she is eternally damned for giving herself to Faust, is the dramatic crux of Gounod's opera.

The final trio from Faust with Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Erwin Schrott:

Although this site is dedicated to baritones, we'd be remiss to not show you this clip of tenor Alfredo Kraus singing Faust, which is one of the great moments in recorded operatic history.

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"Hot Schrott" and Alex Esposito Heat Up London

Erwin Schrott heating up Covent Garden as the Don

We blogged about the current Don Giovanni at Covent Garden awhile back, because it features an amazing cast. Erwin Schrott as Don Giovanni and Alex Esposito are about as close to dream casting as possible today. We've always maintained that Esposito practically owns the role of Leporello on the world stage today and his performances at Covent Garden have done nothing to alter that assessment. 

Here's what George Hall worte in The Stage:

"...in Barbara Lluch’s spry revival of Francesca Zambello’s production, the staging comes over with more vitality and point than it has on previous occasions. Partly this is the result of Alex Esposito’s flawless byplay with Schrott as Leporello, in what is opera’s greatest double act. His rough-edged singing and plebeian manner provide the perfect foil to Schrott’s super-confident aristocrat.

The stunning Kate Lindsey as Zerlina with Schrott

Mark Ronan wrote in his theatre review:

Erwin Schrott was a remarkable Don, good looking, devilishly charming, but with a nasty streak hidden by an insouciant devil-may-care attitude. And his singing was equally remarkable, with an easy casualness as if he were simply talking. As his counterpoint and servant, Alex Esposito as Leporello sang and acted the part with utter conviction. His Madamina aria, where he recounts to the lovesick Elvira all Giovanni’s conquests had a wonderful leering quality, and his stage actions were always expressive but never over the top.

Erwin Schrott: Sexy and sensuous

We highly recommend reading Rupert Christiansen's profile on Erwin Schrott in the Telegraph. Performance with the current cast run through February 29th and their are still some seats available at the Royal Opera House website.

Alex Esposito sings "Madamina":

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Erwin Schrott Tries Out Some New Hairstyles on Twitter

Erwin Schrott with dreads, blue hair and looking a bit matronly

Erwin Schrott apparently passed his time during rehearsals of Don Giovanni in London by going on Twitter and testing out some new hairstyles with his fans. Maybe we're biased, but we think he's every bit as good looking as a Dame Maggie Smith type, a cartoon or Lenny Kravitz's brother.

Schrott Hair onstage and off

Of course, Schrott has been known to try out more hairstyles than Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady. We think he looks pretty damn hot with any hair. Here he is singing "Oblivion" shortly after he cropped his hair and dyed in blonde.

For those who want to check him out live, he's opening as Don Giovanni in London February 3rd opposite the equally hot Leporello of Alex Esposito. Most of 2012 will be in Europe with a heavy dose of Mozart and a series of concerts with his wife Anna Netrebko.

Why we call him "Hot Schrott"

You can follow Erwin Schrott on Twitter at @erwin_schrott.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

What could we possibly say about Mozart that either hasn't been said or you don't know already? Born on January 27, 1756, he was a child prodigy, who wrote his first symphony when he was eight years old and his first opera at age twelve. He went on to write some of the most important masterpieces of the Classical era, including symphonies, operas, string quartets and piano music. Of course, he has been an endless source of material for Barihunks, especially his operas Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte, which provide us with an ongoing stream of sexy low voices.

We think the best way to celebrate his birthday is with some music from our favorite singers:

Erwin Schrott sings "Madamina" from Don Giovanni:

Markus Werba sings "Hai già vinta la cuasa" from "Marriage of Figaro":

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo & Ruxandra Donose sing "Il core vi dono" from Cosi fan tutte:

Gérard Souzay sings "Deh vieni alla finestra"from Don Giovanni:

Simon Keenlyside sings "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" from the Magic Flute:

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Erwin Schrott Stars in "3 Superstars in Berlin" & Don Giovanni in London

Three of the most beautiful performers in opera have teamed up for "3 Superstars in Berlin," an evening of music from opera and musicals. Barihunk Erwin Schrott is joining forces with his wife Anna Netrebko and hunkentenor Jonas Kaufman for a concert that will be shown in movie theaters worldwide on January 26 and February 3. The performance is being taped at the Berlin Waldbuhne, the city's gorgeous 23,000 seat outdoor theater set in the heart of a forest.

The trio will be peforming selections from Bernstein's "West Side Story," Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," Puccini's "Manon Lescaut," Gounod's "Faust," Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and tangos. You can click HERE for tickets and showtimes. 

Erwin Schrott in Don Giovanni

Schrott returns to the opera stage on February 3rd at the Royal Opera House in London as Don Giovanni. His Leporello will be fellow barihunk Alex Esposito. Performances run through February 29th and tickets are available HERE.

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Erwin Schrott is acting devilish

Erwin Scrott as Mefistofeles

Erwin Schrott has been acting a bit devilish lately and it has nothing to do with his wife Anna Netrebko. He recently wrapped up a run at the budget strapped Liceu opera in Barcelona where they performed a "semi-staged" version of Gounod's "Faust" to save money. The press dubbed it "champagne singers and a beer bottle budget," as he was joined by tenor Piotr Beczala, soprano Krassimira Stoyanova and baritone Ludovic Tezier.

He's now keeping in character as the devil, but switching composers, as he's performing Boito's "Mefistofele" at l'Opéra de Monte Carlo on November 13 and 16. Visit their website for additional information.

Here he is singing "Le veau d’or" from Faust in Barcelona:


Here is the Act 1 duet with Piotr Beczala, also from Barcelona:


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Our barihunks calendar is available for purchase in the sidebar to the right. Order now as the perfect stocking stuffer for the opera lover in your life. All proceeds are going to benefit young artists, so you'll be giving twice.

Schrottko to Perform Rossini in Russia

Erwin Schrott & Anna Netrebko

There is a noticeable gap in Erwin Schrott's official schedule from the time that he wraps up Mefistofele in Monte Carlo in November until his January concert in Hannover, Germany with his wife Anna Netrebko.

We've learned that the favorite opera couple of the paparazzi are headed to Netrebko's native Russia for two concerts together. They will begin at the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory on December 24. They will Rossini’s Stabat Mater with  the State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia" under the baton of Claudio Vandelli. On December 28th they will head over to the Svetlanov Hall at the Moscow International Music House and perform with the National Philarmonic of Russia under Vladimir Spivakov.

Since we just celebrated the anniversary of the first performance of "Porgy & Bess" here is Schrottko as an unlikey couple from the opera:



The couple then heads off for their concert in Hannover, with additional stops in Mannheim, Lucerne and Stuttgart. Schrott's next stage appearance will be as "Don Giovanni" at Covent Garden from February 16-29 with our favorite Leporello, Alex Esposito. 

Desert Heat in Arizona: Kaduce & Gregory; Jonathan Beyer Broadcast Tonight

Lee Gregory & Kelly Kaduce Gregory

The "opera couple" phenomenon is getting increasingly popular, especially in Europe where photographers follow around Erwin Schrott and Anna Netrebko like the U.S. press follows around Paris Hilton. One of our favorite opera couples is barihunk Lee Gregory and his equally beautiful and glamorous wife Kelly Kaduce Gregory. Fans in the Great Southwest are in luck, as they are appearing together at the Arizona Opera on October 7 & 9 in Phoenix. Tickets and additional cast information can be found on the company's website.

Jonathan Beyer (photo by David Bachman)

If you're craving some great baritone singing today, check out Jonathan Beyer's recital Sibelius, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dvorak, and American songs, which we be broadcast live at WUOT radio in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you're a connoisseur of great singing  make sure to catch this broadcast tonight.

Beyer has taken the opera world by storm by winning opera competitions and delivering excellent recital programs. Check out his record of winning competitions.

• National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition
• 1st Place Winner at the Marian Anderson Prize for Emerging Classical Artists
• Won the George London Foundation Competition
• Won the McCammon Competition
• Won the Sullivan Foundation Grant
• Won the Irma M. Cooper Competition
• Wont the Violetta DuPont Competition
• Won the Rochester's Classical Idol
• Won the New Jersey Verismo Competition
• Won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Greenfield Competition
• Won the Astral Artist Auditions
• Won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions
• Won the SAI Competition
• Won the American Opera Society Competition
• Won the San Antonio Opera Competition
• Won the American Prize in Art Song and Opera
• Won the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Competition
• Won the Bel Canto Foundation
• And he's received these additional awards: Gerda Lissner Foundation, Jensen Foundation, Solti Foundation, Charles Lynam Competition, Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, National Opera Association, Anna Sosenko Foundation, George Solti Foundation, Mario Lanza Foundation, Dresden Opera Competition, NATS, Giulio Gari Foundation, Palm Beach Opera, Jose Iturbi Foundation, Shreveport Singer of the Year, Liederkranz, Orpheus Competition, the Loren L. Zachary, Irene Dalis, Connecticut Opera Guild, and Neue Stimmen competitions.

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Can Barihunks Sing?

Dmitri Hvorostovsky: The perfect barihunk package?

The wonderful Dutch opera site Place de l'Opera recently wondered if barihunks were just sexy guys who were getting jobs because of their looks and couldn't really sing. Basia Jaworski rated seven singers that have appeared on the site and ranked them for looks and singing ability.

In her article, Jaworski also points out that many roles in opera actually require a lot of charisma and sexuality to make the role work.  She also points out that the site appeals to more than gay men, which if our email is any indication is more than accurate. About half our mail and photo submissions come from women. What is interesting is how some singers seem to appeal to women and others to men, while others seem to have a more universal appeal.

Also, we pride ourselves in posting singers who not only look good, but who can sing. This is why we tend to highlight singers who are winning vocal competitions and are being hand-selected by composers to premiere their works. After all, we like our barihunks to be the complete package.

Here are her rankings. Feel free to share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section:

Erwin Schrott: Looks 9, Singing 6

Bo Skovhus: Looks 9, Singing 9

Rod Gilfry: Looks 9, Singing 9

Simon Keenlyside: Looks 9, Singing 10

Dmitry Hvorostovsky: Looks 10, Singing 10

Mariusz Kwiecien: Looks 8, Singing 7

Nathan Gunn: Looks 8, Singing 8

You can read Basia Jaworski's complete article on the Place de l'Opera website.

Bo Skovhus sings Robert Schumann's "Stille Tränen"



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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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The Original Barihunks

Mariusz Kwiecien (Nick Heavican/Metropolitan Opera)

It's been almost four years since we started Barihunks and we've been blown away by the popularity of the site. We often get asked why we started the site. The picture of Mariusz Kwiecien featured above appeared in the Sunday, September 18, 2011 version of the New York Times. It prompted us to tell the story (which you can also hear on the Texapolitan Opera podcast featured on the right-hand column).

Mariusz Kwiecien was the original inspiration for this site. His steamy, sexy Don Giovanni at the San Francisco Opera, which was recorded and recently rebroadcast on television, prompted a discussion amongst friends about creating a tribute site. We felt that a site dedicated to one singer didn't have broad enough appeal. However, when we start thinking of other sexy singers, a slew of baritones rolled off of our tongues: Erwin Schrott, Dimitri Hvorostovsky, Nathan Gunn...

The list went on and on and on. The natural result was a site dedicated to the baritone-hunks of opera. (FYI, it's pronounced Bear-a-Hunk, not Berry-Hunk).

The original Barihunks: Erwin Schrott, Nathan Gunn & Dmitri Hvorostovsky

We believe that director Francesca Zambello coined the term to describe Nathan Gunn in her production of "Iphigénie en Tauride" at Glimmerglass  in 1997 opposite the equally sexy tenor Bill Burden.

GUNN AND BURDEN MAKING OPERA SEXY IN PEARL FISHERS:



We've been heartened by the amazing emails and support we've received about the site. We received this note from a singer today, "Thanks for showing that opera can be as sexy as anything in the movies or on TV. Your site has shaken up the world of opera for the better." It summed up our intentions perfectly!

Kwiecien: So sexy he launched an opera phenomenon

For other fans of the original barihunk, Mariusz Kwiecien, he's back as Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera beginning October 13th. For those who can't be in NY, the performance will be broadcast worldwide on November 16th as part of the Met's "Live in HD." Check your local listings for performance locations.

We're glad you're enjoying the site. Feel free to email us with comments, suggestion or tips on opera performances or singers at Barihunks@gmail.com.

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Schrott and Netrebko Nixed From Salzburg

Hot Schrott & Anna Netrebko

Erwin Schrott is in the middle of a successful run of Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" at the Salzburg Festival. He is playing Figaro opposite the Count of fellow barihunk Simon Keenlyside. The performance was broadcast worldwide yesterday to great acclaim and Schrott remains a fan favorite in the Austrian city.

So it came as a surprise when Schrott and his soprano wife, the equally beautiful Anna Netrebko, gave an interview to the German magazine NEWS and revealed that they are being nixed from future performances after Netrebko's upcoming Boheme.

NEWS: Weshalb kommt in Ihren Plänen für die nächsten Jahre Salzburg nicht vor?
Schrott: Ganz einfach deshalb, weil in ­Pereiras Plänen kein Platz für mich ist. Aber ich habe viele andere Projekte ­anderswo.

NEWS: Aber Sie, Frau Netrebko, singen nächstes Jahr die Mimi in Puccinis „Bohème“. Wie geht es dann weiter?
Netrebko: Danach gibt es auch für mich keine Projekte in Salzburg.

NEWS: Schmerzt das nicht?
Netrebko: Ja, das tut es.
Schrott: Ja, das tut es.

The worst part of the interview is that they both said that the obvious slight hurts. Netrebko and Schrott are not only rock stars in Austria and at Salzburg in particular, but they have become global ambassadors for the art form. If you want to see Schrott in what appears to be his final performances at Salzburg for awhile there are still limited tickets available for August 4, 11 and 13.

Schrott with the Susanna of Marlis Petersen at Salzburg

The couple also revealed that they plan on opening up a restaurant in Vienna in the near future. The couple joked that they didn't know yet if the menu would include Churrasco from Schrott's native Uraguay or Borscht from Netrebko's Russia.

Here is Schrott at Covent Garden performing "se vuol ballare":



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Who is your favorite opera couple?

We love seeing our reader responses to our poll questions. Not only is it fun, but it helps inform us what is of interest to you. It's been fun watching the current race to see who your favorite opera couple is in the world. As of today, three couples are leading the pack, so make sure to vote.

Dan Kempson & Zach Altman

 

Anna Netrebko & Erwin Schrott

Jordan Shanhan & Audrey Luna

Jordan Shanahan showers while singing some Mozart:

Erwin Schrott Interview & the Baritone Renaissance

Erwin Schrott talking about his life and opera

Erwin Schrott has become one of the most popular singers in opera along with his wife soprano Anna Netrebko. He is currently singing Figaro at the Opera National de Paris' production of "Le Nozze di Figaro" where he took time out to talk about his new CD Rojotango, future roles (many devilish), his vocal chords, burning out on Don Giovanni (for awhile) and juggling a career and a relationship. In July, Schrott and Netrebko will be back on stage together for a concert with the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra.

We continue to delight in the "Golden Age of Baritones" which Schrott is a major part of with his sold out performances, benefit concerts and best selling CDs. He joins a long list of baritones who are releasing critically acclaimed recordings, including Daniel Okulitch's performance of American composers, Rene Pape's upcoming release of Wagner, Peter Mattei's performance of the greatest baritone arias, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Sandra Radvanovsky's thrilling Verdi duets recording,  and Randal Turner's concert of American composers, which includes two baritone world premieres.

Publicity shot for Rojotango

Schrott has become almost the unofficial leader of the baritone renaissance, with his savvy public relations skills, high profile benefits, movie star good looks and scintillating stage performances. It has probably been 50 years since baritones have dominated the world stage as they do today, when Ezio Pinza, Ettore Bastianini, Tito Gobbi, Robert Merrill and Cesare Siepi were considered major audience draws and were prominently marketed by opera companies. Schrott has excelled in the territory that was previously left for sopranos, using sex appeal as a marketing tool. It appears that even the "3 Tenors" phenomenon is giving way to baritones, as recordings like Paulo Szot's "South Pacific" seem to be dominating the "crossover" charts. 



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Amazing New Releases From Erwin Schrott and Randal Turner

"Hot Schrott" images from Rojotango

If you're looking for some great music you might want want to check out two new releases that we're enjoying. The first is Erwin Schrott's new CD "Rojotango," which is enjoyable from beginning to end. You can watch the sexy Uruguayan barihunk talk about this new recording in a video produced by MTV by clicking below. You can download the music at iTunes.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Our other indulgence is American barihunk Randal Turner's new CD and DVD from his recent West Coast recital debut in San Francisco. Turner sings the music of "Living American Composers," including Glen Roven, Ricky Ian Gordon, Jake Heggie, Clint Borzoni and Julia Schwartz, who like Turner has settled in Switzerland. A little teaser: you won't want to miss the encore, which was arranged by his gifted accompanist Allen Perriello.

Click HERE to purchase the DVD

The CD is available at CD Baby and will be available on iTunes and Rhapsody shortly, so put it in your favorite searches or click the button below to purchase the CD now.

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Hot Schrott Gets Devilish

Hot Schrott as Mefistofeles in Vienna

It's rare that we aren't the first site to post pictures of barihunks, but the above picture of Erwin Schrott as Mefistofeles in Faust from Vienna went viral on the internet as soon as the pictures appeared. Our contributor from Germany attended the opera and said it was one of the sexiest performances that she's ever seen.

For those of you who missed the performance, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Scrott is scheduled to reprise the role in October at the Liceu in Barcelona. The bad news is that because of severe budget cuts the performance is now in concert version. So to satisfy your appetite for more Schrott, here are some additional pictures.

Devilishly Hot

We are also accepting submissions for an upcoming post on reader suggestions of barihunks who haven't appeared on this site before. You can send them to Barihunks@gmail.com.

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