OUT Magazine Features New 2016 Calendar Filled With Baritones

Vittorio Prato is one of the featured opera hunks in the 2016 calendar to raise money for fellow baritones.

"Each year, the Barihunks site surprises us with its dedication to opera singers with lower voices — as well as some musical theater notables (and a few non baritones for good measure). Their annual calendar features a selection of those same studs, and for its fifth edition, is no exception. All the singers included in the calendar are baritones or have lower voices — except for Eric Stoklossa, who is the first tenor featured in the calendar. Plus, four singers were photographed this past summer in the Loire Valley for an exclusive shoot, including Marco Vassalli and Malte Roesner (Pictured above). Proceeds from the charity calendar will be used to fund the creation of the Foundation for the Advancement of Baritones (F.A.B.), which will 'fund baritone and bass cash prizes at song competitions, commission music for baritones and basses, and be used to fund other projects featuring low male voices.'" [Source] You can buy the calendar here. See photos of featured baritones Marco Vassalli and Malte Roesner with (and without) shirts after the jump.

Renée Fleming Joins Top American A-Listers For Charity Gala

View image | gettyimages.com

Renée Fleming joined high-ranking celebrities for a good cause last night in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. The charity event, "SeriousFun Children's Network 2015 New York Gala: An Evening Of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy Of Paul Newman," included entertainers David Letterman, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Danny Devito, Carole King, Tom Hanks, Natalie Cole, and more. Learn more about the charity by clicking here. See more pictures after the jump.

Danielle De Niese Celebrates Music With World's Biggest Stars

All-Time High: The soprano sings an American classic tune while up in the sky.

"One of the biggest names in the opera world, soprano Danielle de Niese sang live in the studio for BBC Radio 3’s 'In Tune' earlier this year and was one of the presenters of the 2014 BBC Proms." Soprano Danielle de Niese joined fellow classical musicians trumpeter Alison Balsom and violinist Nicola Benedetti to celebrate the joy of music and raise funds for charity. They are joined by mega-stars like Elton John, Emelie Sandé, Kylie Minogue, Pharell Williams, Stevie Wonder, and the original Beach Boys member Brian Wilson. "BBC Music is delighted to share with you this extraordinary version of the Beach Boys' masterpiece, 'God Only Knows,' to celebrate our love of music. With the 80-piece BBC Concert Orchestra at its heart and 27 ridiculously talented musicians from a wide range of genres, this 'impossible orchestra' represents the talent, diversity and musical passion found every single day throughout the BBC. The single is also in aid of this year's BBC Children in Need campaign....The BBC has launched BBC Music and to celebrate has released the single 'God Only Knows,' featuring a dazzling array of musical stars, to raise money for BBC Children in Need. Pharrell Williams, One Direction, Stevie Wonder and Emeli

Sandé are among the 27 artists who joined the BBC Concert Orchestra to record the track and film showing the breadth of the BBC’s music output and its relationship with musicians. The unveiling of BBC Music marks a celebration of brilliant musical talent in this country and beyond, and showcases the BBC’s ongoing support for music programmes, partnerships and ground breaking music initiatives." Learn more about BBC Music by clicking here. The video, details about where to buy the single, and more photos, after the jump. [Source, Source, Source]

More Opera Singers Take The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

In case you missed the first round of opera folks taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, click here. Enjoy the new editions of Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ildar Abdrazakov, Deborah Sasson, and Katherine Jenkins, below by clicking on each photo to watch the video:

Opera Crowd Taking ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Around The World

Post by Debbie Voigt.

Anna Netrebko Hometown Receives Aid From Valery Gergiev

"O diretor do Teatro Mariinsky de São Petersburgo, maestro Valery Gergiev, tomou a decisão de doar, aproximadamente, R$ 62 mil, arrecadados durante a última apresentação da casa de espetáculos no domingo, 8, às vitimas de enchentes que atingiram a região de Krasnodar. Neste dia, no âmbito de XX Festival Musical Noites Brancas, no palco subiram a Orquestra Sinfônica sob a direção do maestro, os solistas de ópera Olga Sergueeva e Yuri Vorobiov e o pianista japonês, cego de nascença, Nobuyuki Tsiji. A mesma quantia o Teatro irá transferir ao fundo para as vitimas das enchentes na Kuban, depois do concerto da Anna Netrebko que será realizado no Teatro Mariinsky, no dia 20 de julho. Segundo a representante do Teatro, a solista Anna Netrebko também nasceu em Krasnodar e, para ela, esta atitude representa um gesto de apoio aos seus conterrâneos." [Source]

Anna Netrebko Supports Russian Children's Welfare Society, Inc.

"Famed operatic soprano Anna Netrebko is an Honorary Director of RCWS and has been involved with the organization for over 10 years, having graced the stage of both the Plaza Hotel and Waldorf-Astoria for performances at RCWS’ Annual Petroushka Ball. She has garnered critical esteem and stirred up devoted fanfare worldwide for her riveting performances and breathtaking voice. This season, she will be starring in two new productions at the Met opening the season by starring in Anna Bolena followed by Manon in the spring. Here is a brief introduction to Anna and her work with the RCWS." To get more information about donating click here and to see more of the supporters of this charity, including Dmitri Hvorostovksy, Elena Obraztsova, Daniel Ulbricht, Johnny Weir, Piotr Beczala, Maija Kovalevska, Diana Damrau and more, click here.