By GEORGE LOOMIS [NY Sun, 24 January 2006]

He has the kind of heartthrob looks that give ticket and record sales that extra boost, but Dmitri Hvorostovsky has steadfastly resisted pressure to cross over into the realm of pop music. The whole concept of crossover, the great Siberian baritone has repeatedly let it be known, leaves him cold. Why divert energy from his ever-expanding repertory of operatic roles or his work on the concert stage?