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ASQoD: 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

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ASQoD: 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

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ASQoD: 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.

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ASQOD: 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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ASQoD

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

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Your 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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Ready, Set, Monologue!

If you’re preparing for a Wolf Trap Opera Studio audition, you are probably thinking about what monologue to offer. (And – inside your head – you’re probably cursing us for requiring one.) Don’t despair. Read on for some advice and resources (including some links that caused me to fall down a most enjoyable monologue internet rabbit

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L’Opera Seria – Two More Days!

Our ridiculously enjoyable (U.S. premiere!) of Gassmann’s L’Opera Seria has just 2 more days left in its YouTube life. You know you owe it to yourself to dip in… Some suggestions: The chaotic Act I finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udNiYX-a_eI&feature=youtu.be&t=41m06s The legendary Fish Drop: https://youtu.be/T6aROd6I450?t=29m11s Baroque Opera gone bad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXzUdy4_CAo&feature=youtu.be&t=14m20s All 3 acts of this Opera Not-So-Seria are at wolftrap.org/streaming.

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West Coast First!

And so it begins. The deadline to apply for an audition in Los Angeles is tonight (September) 5 at midnight! Midwest is next: Chicago deadline is next Tuesday, September 12. (Photo above shows your astute yet friendly WTO audition panel in Chicago last year.) Go here for complete timelines and information on our October audition tour. RESOURCES Looking

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WTO 2017: Kim’s Version

Once again, the summer has drawn to a close, and I am regretting the lack of personal commentary in this space over the last few months. So much to do, so much to tell you about. Ultimately, we have to choose the former over the latter. But now that it’s over, I hope you’ll indulge this

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