We’re in Chicago today, at Pianoforte Studios. A full day of auditions – 71 arias. (That’s a lot…) And only 3 repeats. (For the record: Sam’s Aria from Susannah, “La calunnia” from Barber of Seville and “Embroidery” from Peter Grimes!)
Tonight I get to see WTO alums in town to star in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Die Walküre – soprano Christine Goerke and bass Eric Owens! Catching up with colleagues and old friends is one of the best parts of being on the road, for sure.
Now on to our 4th ASQoD*
“Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention.”
Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way)
With every passing day (especially in this amazingly connected world we now live in), there is more and more noise threatening to derail us. While you’re auditioning, you must shut it out.
Stay in your lane.
There should be no part of your brain that’s scanning the room for cues. (“Are they writing bad things about me?” “Why are they frowning?”).
The middle of your aria is no time to obsess about other unfinished business. (“Do I look OK in this dress?” “Did I remember to mark the cut in my music?”)
Be attentive to what matters, and shut down that monkey mind that swings frantically from branch to branch.
Stay in your lane.
The Audition Season Quote of the Day is a month-long series brought to you by Wolf Trap Opera.
Photography by Doug Pensinger
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