A SEXY Don Giovanni at New York City Opera

If this is the look of the George Steel era at New York City Opera then we at Barihunks heartily approve. There was a lot of controversy and discussion about his hiring, particularly amongst opera aficionados on the East Coast. From what we heard from people who had worked with him, we knew all along that he would make the "People's Opera" interesting and he's lived up to his reputation.


[Jason Hardy as Leporello and Daniel Okulitch as Don Giovanni; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]


[Joélle Harvey as Zerlina and Kelly Markgraf as Masetto; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]

Here is how City Opera described this new production:

Visionary director Christopher Alden reimagines this masterwork in a thrilling new production which explores the intersection of dark eroticism and strict Spanish-Catholic tradition in the early 20th century. Rising star Daniel Okulitch makes his City Opera debut as the notorious antihero.

[Jason Hardy as Leporello, Keri Alkema as Donna Elvira, Kelly Markgraf as Masetto, Joélle Harvey as Zerlina, Gregory Turay as Don Ottavio and Stefania Dovhan as Donna Anna; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]


[Jason Hardy as Leporello; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]


[Daniel Okulitch as Don Giovanni; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]

Don Giovanni provides a lot of material for this site and we're grateful for some wonderful new images from NYCO. For more information visit the New York City Opera website. The production runs through November 22nd.


[Clockwise: Kelly Markgraf as Masetto, Gregory Turay as Don Ottavio, Keri Alkema as Donna Elvira, Stefania Dovhan as Donna Anna, Daniel Okulitch as Don Giovanni (center), Jason Hardy as Leporello and Joélle Harvey as Zerlina; Photo by © Carol Rosegg]

It is important the New York City has two major opera companies and this production shows why. City Opera will put on productions that one will never see at the Met. If you're in the New York, we encourage you to support this new regime which is working its way back to financial viability.

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Philip Cutlip in Glass' Orphée

[Photo from Portland Opera by Cory Weaver]

The hunky Philip Cutlip performs the title role in Philip Glass' opera Orphée. For more information visit the Portland Opera website.

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Three Barihunks in Boston Lyric's "Carmen"

[Top photo of Greg Gerbrandt; Bottom photo of Daniel Mobbs by Jeffrey Dunn for Boston Lyric Opera]

We love any opera with a barihunk, but three barihunks in one opera is bariheaven. That's just what Boston Lyric Opera has put together, with Daniel Mobbs as Escamillo, Andrew Garland as Dancaïro, and a favorite on this site, Gregory Gerbrandt as Morales.

In this production we think Carmen should dump Don Jose and run off to Valencia with Dancaïro, Morales and Escamillo. Now that's living like a true gypsy!

Click HERE for tickets and information.
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Another Sexy Don From the Hot Pole

It doesn't matter who directs Mariusz Kwiecien in Don Giovanni, he still manages to ooze sex. At the Bavarian State Opera German director Stephan Kimmig splatters him in blood, shaves his head, throws a cheap blond wig on him and even surrounds him by butchered pigs, but the Hot Pole still seethes with his usual sensuality. His counterpart, once again, is barihunk Alex Esposito.

He remains the most interesting actor among male singers in operas. Kwiecien and Esposito works incredibly well together on stage, so even if you don't like the production, the acting is outstanding.

For more information about the production, visit the Bavarian State Opera website.
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Okulitch at Museum of Sex

By PlaybillArts Staff
October 26, 2009

In anticipation of its forthcoming production of the Mozart classic, New York City Opera will host an Oct. 27 event exploring the legend behind Don Giovanni. The 7 PM presentation will be held at the Museum of Sex in Manhattan.


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New York City Opera's own Don Juan (bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch) in its new production of Don Giovanni, director Christopher Alden, and Esther Perel, a prominent sexologist, join us for an intimate, provocative exchange on the Don Juan legend, including a live excerpt from Don Giovanni, and film and audio clips and slides.

The evening will explore history versus myth, the Don's changing image, how Mozart's Don Juan relates to the composer's own lusty sexuality, City Opera's new interpretation, and Don Juan in the 21st century.

PARTICIPANTS:

Christopher Alden, director
Daniel Okulitch, bass-baritone
Esther Perel, couple therapist, author of Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
Liora Maurer, pianist
Moderator: Cori Ellison, City Opera Dramaturg

Tickets are $10. The Museum of Sex is located at 233 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Call 212-689-6337 x115 or visit www.museumofsex.com

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Can You Tell Them Apart?

The Arizona Republic newspaper recently ran this paragraph in a review of Cosi fan Tutti at Arizona Opera:

The girls and boys are pretty much interchangeable - can you tell the difference between Guglielmo (David Adam Moore) and Ferrando (Gordon Gietz)? Didn't think so.

I'm not sure that it matters if one can tell them apart. They're both pretty hot and we happily welcome tenor Gordon Gietz to the site.

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The Hot Pole

What more can we say about Mariusz Kwiecien's special gift? After all, it's one of the reasons we call him the Hot Pole.

Kwiecien is heading to his homeland to sing Lord Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Opera Krakowska beginning in November.

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