It’s more than a little surreal that we’re on the audition trail already. And the beautiful summery weather in New York has me even further confounded. Short sleeves and warm sunshine ≠ arias and rep lists. Feels as if there’s some sort of tear in the fabric of the cosmos. Yet here we are, hunkering
Read MorePosts Tagged: auditions
Almost Ready to Hit the Road…
OK, thanks for tolerating my final perfunctory oh-no!-another-application-deadline-is-upon-us! post of the audition season: The final deadline for applications for the fall 2011 audition tour is tonight (Friday 9/3o) at midnight EDT. This deadline includes applications for the Vienna VA, Cincinnati, and Houston sites. I’ll be back to my usual entertaining and informative self (all things
Read MoreLooking for Audition Advice? Hit the Archives.
Apologies for my intense silence this fall, but I am lavishing all brain cells on reviewing the huge digital pile of applications in front of me. If you’re trolling for audition season musings and advice, you’ll be well served by checking out the Fall 2009 series of posts devoted to strutting your stuff in the
Read MoreFinal Aria Stats!
OK, we’re back on home turf, and the data geekery is done for a while. I’ve churned out the stats on which arias were offered as first choices in each vocal category during this fall’s audition tour. Start at the Aria Frequency page. Observations? Here they are, with the usual caveats. (Completely subjective, read at
Read MoreThe Final Leg: Chicago Edition
I would love to spend time in Chicago some day. Time, that is, that doesn’t include 78 auditions. (Many of which were marvelous, mind you. But still…) I understand that there’s an amazing architectural tour. There are beautiful neighborhoods I’d love to visit. And many friends to meet at amazing restaurants. But sadly, our Chicago
Read MoreTrappers in Houston
Fun evening at Brasil with WTOC alumni (and baby!) and the random “Guitar Center Trio.” (Perfect description. Thanks, NP:)) Houston auditions brought us performances of two terrific American arias: Bea’s aria from Heggie’s Three Decembers (soprano) and Tina’s aria (“Sixty Years Ago”) from Argento’s The Aspern Papers (mezzo). Meetings with colleagues, a startling good performance
Read MoreWhat the Guys Are Singing
Aria frequency lists for tenor, baritone, and bass/bass-baritone are ready for your eager consumption. I’ve reformatted all of the lists so that they’re easily downloadable as PDFs. Start here for the entire menu. After we finish auditions (by Thanksgiving!), I’ll put together a list of starter arias for each voice type, separating out the Studio
Read MoreTexas Already?
My apologies for ignoring California. I had gotten the flu after the New York leg and thought I had bounced back. I was wrong, and it has taken me all of Ohio and California to feel human again. The good news is that things are looking up. Only about 2,500 miles and 350 arias to
Read MoreMezzos: Who’s Singing What
If you want to know what the popular YAP audition rep is this fall, this is the place to be. This weekend, it’s the mezzos’ turn. The list was compiled at 34,000 feet, thanks to the miracle that is Gogo Inflight Internet. Here’s the jumping off point for all the lists: https://opera.wolftrap.org/aria-frequency-lists/. Countertenor, tenor, baritone,
Read MorePutting on our Midwest Ears
The view from the table this week in Cincinnati, from the back of the lovely Werner Recital Hall on the campus of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Our pianist, as always in Cincinnati, was the peerless Donna Loewy; and our guest panelist Marie-France Lefebvre was a colleague of mine both at Washington National
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