Day 2 of Cincinnati auditions is done. There was a strong showing from Studio Artist candidates from a whole range of schools, with the largest contingents from CCM, Indiana University, and University of Michigan. We had an interesting run of NSFW audition monologues this morning… some of them worked, some didn’t, but the preponderance of them on
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ASQoD: Triage
Day 1 in Cincinnati, at CCM’s beautiful Werner Recital Hall. Arias are coming in pairs today: We started the day with back-to-back 10am performances of Sarastro’s “O Isis und Osiris” (The Magic Flute) and we heard double renditions of less-standard arias Ilia’s “Padre, germani, Addio” (Idomeneo) and Marenka’s “Och, jaky zal!” (The Bartered Bride). On to our #ASQoD*
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Road trip today, from Chicago to Cincinnati! (With a required traditional stop at Crabby Mike’s BBQ in Lafayette, IN.) In the spirit of this Friday the 13th, I offer entry 6 in #ASQoD* “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty
Read MoreASQoD: Flexibility
Day 2 of auditions in Chicago. Some great monologues (including Eli Pope from Scandal) and hearings of rare arias (“Nicht ein Augenblick” from Silent Night, Berg’s “Lied der Lulu”, “Agitato da fiere tempeste” from Riccardo Primo, and “Alles vorbei” from Das Land des Lächelns.) And here’s your 5th #ASQoD* “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
Read MoreASQoD: Focus
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
Read MoreASQoD: Serial Processing
In transit today, from LA to Chicago, spending the flight researching new repertoire on the 2018 Short List. On to today’s #ASQoD* “Nobody can do two things at once, you know.” The Red Queen, via Lewis Carroll (Through the Looking Glass) Take that, multi-taskers. The Red Queen was a tough customer, but she had much to
Read MoreASQoD: Preparation
Day 2 in LA, hearing a wide range of repertoire, including some things that we’ve never (or extremely rarely) heard in audition! Fidelia’s aria from Puccini’s Edgar, the Controller’s Aria from Dove’s Flight (the first of several this year, possibly), the Song of the Indian Guest from Sadko, Lagrimas mias from El anillo de hierro, and Miei pensieri fom Orlando Palladino.
Read MoreASQOD: Optimism & Terror
WTO 2018 audition tour, coming to you today from Rehearsal Room 3 at LA Opera. I’ve seen WTO alums in the LA Phil’s Music from the Magic Flute and LA Opera’s The Pearl Fishers over the last two nights, and now we’re getting ready to hear 65 singers in audition over the next two days. Let’s
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Yes, friends, audition season is upon us. There’s so much work to be done. Updating resumes and rep lists, filing applications, cleaning up aria notebooks, nailing down travel, scheduling appointments. And while you’re doing all of that and more, we administrator types are trapped in our own logistic circle of hell. Reviewing said resumes, fielding
Read MoreYour Dose of Nerdy Aria Goodness
Well, this isn’t a very sexy-looking post, but if history is any indication, it’ll be a popular one. Drum roll please… Aria Frequency Lists for the 2017 and 2018 audition tours are now available! Click through the hyperlinks below, or visit our Audition Resource page for all lists for all voice types for the last 7 years. 2018 Lists: Sopranos | Mezzos
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