Browsing all posts in Articles.
Barbara Frittoli Weighs In on The Countess
This is a great interview by Dominic McHugh with Barbara Frittoli which originally appeared on MusicalCriticism.com marking Ms. Frittoli’s performance in the 2008 Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House. Check out her insights into Countess Almaviva! The Milanese soprano Barbara Frittoli has been a regular fixture at Covent Garden for a decade, [...]
FIGARO’S Friends, Lovers, and Spouses: Countess Rosina Almaviva
This insightful examination of our favorite character of Le Nozze Figaro’s Countess Almaviva originally appeared on the Seattle Opera Blog in 2009 and deserves a re-read! Check it out! The Countess is the only character in Le nozze di Figaro (well, maybe Marcellina is a runner-up) whose love-life isn’t complicated by her own narcissism. As [...]
Countess in the HOUSE!!!
by Melissa Wimbish Who’s the baddest bitch in Mozart? Arguably someone ferocious like Elettra from Idomeneo, but HELLO, that opera never gets any play. What about that feisty cougar Donna Elvira? There’s also Fiordiligi who just never decides it’s time to leave the stage..EVER. Queen of the Night who could easily “out-crazy” the moms on [...]
Mastering Your Anxiety
by Daniela Candillari “You can reduce your anxiety somewhat by facing the fact that there isn’t a mechanic alive who doesn’t louse up a job once in a while. The main difference between you and the commercial mechanics is that when they do it you don’t hear about it – just pay for it, in [...]
The Total Package: A Singer’s Guide
by John Bowen As General Director of Opera Vivente, I used to receive hundreds of audition applications each year, so I spent a lot of time sorting through headshots, resumés, review sheets, and recommendation letters. And year after year, I notice the same problems with all of the above materials. So, when Operagasm asked me [...]
“I know you’re likely nervous under all that mascara, but please BREATHE.”: Your Audition Pianist Speaks, Are You Ready?
by Michael Sheppard “Say the word, and the tone will come.” ~ Arturo Toscanini (to Jan Peerce) “I am interested in music that is better than it can be performed.” ~ Artur Schnabel The Personality Singers: you can’t live with ‘em, and you can’t light their hair on fire. Okay, well…while I’ve never had this [...]
Baltimore Concert Opera: “De-Mystifying the Opera Audition”
by Melissa Wimbish The Baltimore Concert Opera holds its principal auditions in front of a live audience every year. So whatcha think about that? Too much like being on NBC’s “The Voice”, or is it actually a brilliant step towards creating a non-threatening audition situation while creating a buzz for the upcoming season, AAAAAnnnd considering [...]
Eat, prepare, audition
by Gale Martin A select echelon of classically trained singers need never audition again. Then there’s the rest of the opera-singing universe. Plenty of talented artists face a relentless tide of auditions for roles, awards, scholarships, coveted spots on training program rosters, etc. It’s the equivalent of the cold call for salespeople except that salespeople [...]
Operagasm Exclusive: Interview with ‘Succinct’ Sirota
by Melissa Wimbish In just a few days, Cutting Edge Concerts will present a double-bill of modern opera from composers Robert Sirota and Theodore Wiprud. This program got me thinking…premieres like this must be somewhat equivalent to an audition for composers, right? Sitting in the audience hoping people don’t say anything like, “This really sucks”or, [...]
Operagasm Retro Feature: How Important is A Good Head Shot?
We pulled this one from the archives in honor of Audition Annihilation! Spring and summertime are the PERFECT seasons to get a new headshot. Everyone is looking and feeling fine, the sun is shining, the smell of photogenic is in the air — don’t show up next audition season with a shoddy shot! by Eldeen [...]
