"Prima Donna" Opens at New York City Opera Today

Rufus Wainwright, Randal Turner & Melody Moore

The New York City Opera is about to pull off an operatic trifecta when it opens Rufus Wainwright's debut opera "Prima Donna" today at 1:30 PM EST. The opera was originally supposed to make its New York debut at the Metropolitan Opera, but they wouldn't schedule it until 2014. So Wainwright took it across the plaza (which is now at BAM, but that's a whole different story). Not only is City Opera winning the battle over "Prima Donna," but both rising superstar Melody Moore and barihunk sensation Randal Turner will be making their debuts with City Opera before they step on the Met stage. These are two singers who are not to be missed on stage, as they both combine great singing with amazing dramatic instincts.

Someone better call Peter Gelb at the Met!

The opera is making its much-awaited U.S. debut after runs at the Manchester International Festival, Sadler’s Wells and Toronto’s Luminato Festival.

The story of Prima Donna revolves around an aging opera singer who is attempting to revive her career amidst self-doubt, failed romance and crippling loneliness. The opera, sung in French, is set in Paris, 1970. The story is very much inspired by Maria Callas' later years in Paris where she was known to lock herself inside her room and listen to old opera recordings.

We wish everyone well on opening day!



Performances run through February 25 and all remaining tickets are just $25. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Get French with Barihunks Michael Weyandt, Ross Benoliel and Randal Turner

Randal Turner, Francis Poulenc & Michael Weyandt (Clockwise from top left)

We want to remind readers about the Poulenc Cabaret at 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 2 at the Gershwin Hotel, 7 East 27th Street in New York City. The concert by operamission will include Banalités, Chansons gaillardes, la Courte paille, Les Mamelles de Tirésias (from the opera), plus more settings of Guillaume Apollinaire, Louis Aragon, two cabaret-friendly songs written for Yvonne Printemps, clarinet sonata from 1962, solo piano Improvisation n° 15 and Hommage à Edith Piaf.

Simon Keenlyside sings Poulenc's Hôtel:   

In addition to barihunks Randal Turner, Ross Benoliel and Michael Weyandt, artists include clarinetist Cory Tiffin, pianists Max Midroit and Jennifer Peterson, singers Michelle Jennings, John Carlo Pierce, Marcy Richardson, Kimberly Sogioka and Nicholas Tamagna. Tickets are only $20.

The cast of NYCO's "Prima Donna"

You can also see Randal Turner at New York City Opera where he is appearing in Rufus Wainwright's "Prima Donna." Thanks to a generous gift from The Reed Foundation and The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation all remaining tickets for Prima Donna, as well as La traviata are only $25. What are you waiting for? Visit their website for tickets now. You can also buy Randal Turner's CD of "Living American Composers" by clicking the link below:

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

NYCO "Prima Donna" Preview at Guggenheim SOLD OUT; Watch it LIVE online; $25 Seats For All Shows

Composer/Singer Rufus Wainwright & Barihunk Randal Turner

Opera fans can put to rest any concerns that New York City Opera couldn't bounce back after a contentious work stoppage. Tonight's preview performance at the Guggenheim is completely SOLD OUT. City Opera General Director George Steel will moderate a discussion with Rufus Wainwright and members of the creative team. Singers will also perform excerpts from the show, including barihunk Randal Turner.

The sudden buzz about City Opera reopening their doors is great news for anyone who believes that New York City should have two major opera companies. If you don't have tickets or don't live in New York, you have three options to enjoy the preview. Standby tickets will be made available as space allows and can be obtained by calling the box office at 212-423-3587. You can view the live broadcast of the performance and discussion by clicking HERE or you can follow the discussion on Twitter at @WorksandProcess and use the hashtag #WPlive. All three start at 7:30 PM EST/4:30 PST.

City Opera also got some good financial news when the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation bought all of the remaining seats for all performances at BAM. City Opera is now offering those seats at a special price of $25 to celebrate the upcoming season. Click HERE to buy your $25 tickets for Prima Donna, La traviata, Cosi fan tutte or Orpheus.

Prima Donna will be performed February 19–25 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The post-performance reception for this program will take place in the theater lobbies.

Watch Rufus Wainwright perform "Hallelujah." FYI, he does not sing in Prima Donna:

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com