Last
week I had the opportunity to chat with a young singer about auditions. Based on our discussion that evening,
but expanded greatly, I have a few tips specific to singers at the
young professional level in the U.S. This is all my own opinion,
based on my experience behind the table. There might be customs and
requirements in other situations and locales that contradict what I
say here. If
there are specific instructions for any particular audition that
contradict my recommendations, follow those instructions.
Preparation
![]() |
Photo courtesy Cie Peterson (ciepeterson.com) |
Have all of your audition repertoire in top
condition. New arias mustn't look and sound like you've just learned
them, and old arias mustn't look and sound like you took them out of
moth balls just yesterday for this audition. Plan and practice how
you'd present them to a team behind a table five feet away or to a
panel in a darkened auditorium.
Repertoire
I'm
a big fan of using hit-parade repertoire for auditions. You want to
be remembered as the best "Voi che sapete" they heard that
day, not as the aria no one knew. If you're not confident you can be
the best "Voi che sapete"--or any other default aria from
your fach--maybe
it's time to rethink some things.
There
could be room for an aria from an opera that's not as well known.
This is usually reserved for the obligatory aria in English, but if
you have an aria from L'Amico
Fritz or Edgar that
suits you well, use it, and open with it. But make sure every other
aria on your list is very well known.
Your
repertoire should be appropriate to the roles you can sing today. If
you can't sing the entirety of Calaf today without doing yourself a
mischief, don't include "Nessun dorma" in your audition
rep. Sing it in concerts and
at parties all
you want, but recall that auditions and performances are two
different animals.
Presentation
Presentation
includes everything that affects what the auditioners think of you,
from how you walk in to how you dress to how you answer their
questions. Remember that questions should get a succinct
answer--which should be well rehearsed, because most questions are
predictable--but advice from the table should get "I'll talk
about that with my teacher/coach/medium/priest/cleaning lady/etc."
Remember
their job is not to offer you feedback (unless they have stated
otherwise), and you rarely gain anything by trying to explain or
discuss anything they bring up. They're on a schedule. Just move
on to the next aria or a graceful and confident exit.
Some
young singers have resumes that look cramped and difficult to read,
and include things that aren't useful--older roles, non-opera gigs,
irrelevant listings. Remove those and any roles you don't want to sing again,
unless there is another reason to keep them (presenting organization,
conductor or director, etc.) And remember that the opera world is
small--you will be caught in a lie or an exaggeration. Please
check your printer to make sure you're not printing your materials on
re-purposed paper with other things printed on the back!
There
is more than one school of thought about audition wear. I think a
singer should wear what makes him/her look good and feel confident
and comfortable. Something flattering from all angles and distances.
Women, wear pants suits if you like, but I don't think it's necessary
to wear pants if you want to be considered for a pants role. Men,
wear a tie if you like, but it's not necessary. Nice pants and a
blazer are the best option if you skip the tie. (Try to avoid a suit
without a tie--it just looks incomplete.) Men and women both, make
sure your shoes are appropriate and in good condition. Women, wear
makeup that a sane woman executive would wear. You're not Elektra
yet. Invest in one or two nice outfits, but don't spend a week's
salary on anything.
The
smallest things matter. Know exactly
what
you're going to say when you enter the room. If you have to pay a fee
on site, have it ready. Have your audition binder ready. Include
only
those arias you want to sing today, and
have your first selection first in your binder.
(There
are several different discussions to be had about choosing editions,
how audition pianists want to see your book, etc., but that's for another article.) If
you're presenting resumes and other materials, have those ready, too.
Don't assume you are free from evaluating eyes and ears until you are
well out of the building.
Results
The
question of nerves often comes up--how to handle nerves during the
audition. This is a very individual question, and I can only share
what sometimes works for me: Act as if you've already got the job.
Earn an Oscar for the performance you give, from beginning to end, as
a very confident opera singer who is sure he/she is the very best
candidate. Much easier said than done, but it does become less
difficult with time.
No
matter how you think you did, never let them see you sweat. Keep your
composure whether you nailed everything or not. And then forget about
it. Move on to the next audition or performance or life experience
you are preparing, and don't worry about the audition you've just
done. Not so easy, but when you learn to act that way you'll find the
process easier.
All
of these ideas are
the result of interaction with lots of opera singers and opera
producers. On many of these points there are differing opinions. I
present the viewpoints that make sense to me, and encourage singers
to learn of other viewpoints as well. In
the absence of specific instructions, make a well-reasoned choice and
move forward confidently.
BONUS: Here's a link to something I published a few years ago after observing a musical theater audition master class.
2 comments:
Seth Rudetsky comments in auditions for Broadway not to sing what everybody knows OF RECENT VINTAGE. If I was a Baritone I'd walk in with "One More Walk Around The Garden" from Carmelina prepared. Do you think there are any different strategies for musical theater auditions...?
Here's a link to something I published a few years ago after observing a musical theater audition masterclass:
http://www.taminophile.com/2012/08/audition-words-to-wise.html
Post a Comment