It's difficult to make inroads into opera, but this year is already proving to ease the challenge through a talented (and attractive) group of all-stars.
pretty yende hottest opera star
In this Jan. 11, 2013 photo provided by the Metropolitan Opera, Juan Diego Florez, performs as Count Ory with Pretty Yende as Countess Adele during a dress rehearsal of Rossini's "Le Comte Ory," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Opera, Marty Sohl)
Perhaps it's not a surprise that this year marks some big anniversaries for opera as well. The striking Polish tenor Piotr Beczala will star in the Metropolitan Opera's unusual staging of "Rigoletto" set in 1960s Las Vegas to honor Verdi's 200th birthday. In May, Jonas Kaufmann -- Germany's sexiest tenor -- will play the title role in "Parsifal" to mark the 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth.
Edward Benjamin Britten will also be ringing in a birthday in 2013. At this year's Glyndebourne Festival in London 'Billy Budd' returns to mark Britten's centennial birthday. The hot tenor from South Africa Jacques Imbrailo will play the title role.
This must be the year for South African singers because aptly-named Pretty Yende made a splash at her Met debut last week. Also in the spotlight at the Met this month is the blonde beauty Kristine Opolais, who appears in Puccini’s "La Rondine."
Jonas Kaufmann
Jonas Kaufmann, a German tenor, will perform in the Metropolitan Opera's performance of Wagners' Parsifal this February. In this photo provided by the Metropolitan Opera Jonas Kaufmann performs during his solo recital at the Metropolitan Opera in New York Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Opera, Ken Howard)
Kristine Opolais
This January the Latvian soprano Kristing Opolais made her Met debut in Puccini’s ‘La Rondine.’ This January 8, 2013 photo provided by the Metropolitan Opera shows Kristine Opolais as Magda and Giuseppe Filianoti as Ruggero in a dress rehearsal of Puccini's "La Rondine" at he Metropolitan Opera in New York. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Opera, Ken Howard)
Anna Netrebko
Anna Netrebko, a Russian soprano, takes on the role of Adina in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore at the Metropolitan Opera through February.
Charles Castronovo
American tenor Charles Castronovo has six operatic performance lined up for 2013 including 'La Rondine' at the Royal Opera Covent Garden in London and 'La Traviata' at Staatsoper Berlin. FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2011 file photo US tenor Charles Castronovo in the role of Alfredo Germont performs during a dress rehearsal for Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata" at the state opera in Vienna, Austria. Premiere of the opera was on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, directed by Jean-Francois Sivadier and conducted by French Maestro Bertrand de Billy. (AP Photo/dapd, Lilli Strauss, File)
Piotr Beczala
The polish tenor Piotr Beczala will play the womanizing Duke in the Metropolitan Opera's performance of 'Rigoletto' this year. In this version of Verdi's opera Director Michael Mayer has set 'Rigoletto' in 1960s Las Vegas. In this Friday, March 23, 2012 photo, Anna Netrebko performs the title role alongside Piotr Beczala as Chevalier des Grieux during the final dress rehearsal of Jules Massenet's "Manon," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Daniel Okulitch
Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch will play Figaro in the Arizona Opera's performance of 'Le nozze di Figaro' in April. Singer Daniel Okulitch performs during a press rehearsal of the opera based on Canadian director David Cronenberg 1986 movie 'The Fly' on June 30, 2008 in Paris' Chatelet Theatre. ''The Fly' is directed by Cronenberg and conducted by Placido Domingo. The production was composed by Canadian Howard Shore after 'The Fly and will play five times in Paris from July 2 to 13 before opening in Los Angeles on September 7. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)
Pretty Yende
Pretty Yende, the South African soprano, made her Met debut this January as Countess Adele in 'Le Comte Ory.' In this Jan. 11, 2013 photo provided by the Metropolitan Opera, Karine Deshayes, left, performs as Isolier with Pretty Yende as Countess Adele during a dress rehearsal of Rossini's "Le Comte Ory," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Opera, Marty Sohl)
Vittorio Grigolo
Vittorio Gringolo, a tenor from Italy, performed his first recital at La Scala in January. BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 02: Singer Vittorio Grigolo attends the Echo Klassik 2011 award ceremony at Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt on October 2, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Daniel Modjesch/Getty Images)
Katherine Jenkins
Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins will begin her European tour with the classical crossover quartet Il Divo in March. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins performs live on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, during her 'This Is Christmas' tour on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
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