Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?

Subject: Metropolitan Opera auditions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 04:31 PM

A friend of mine whose high-school daughter loves singing wants to come to the big city and expose the kid to some real music. The kid is taking voice lessons and has a good soprano voice. Trouble is, this winter's offerings musical offerings are pretty bleak. Stuff like tragic operas and Prokofiev.   

But the opera auditions are Jan 23rd. Have you ever gone to them? What are they like?

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 12:11 AM

Haven't gone. Just might. Those kids are trying hard and deserve an audience. They just might be some of tomorrow's stars. After all, you don't just walk in, you have to be recommended.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 02:01 AM

I didn't know that.

Since posting I have found a local person who knows all about it, and she's told me what it's like. For example, the singers sing publicly, but their feedback from the judges is given privately. There is no Simon-Cowell type public humiliation.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 10:29 AM

I have sent a note to the person in charge asking for more info.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 02:10 PM

I got this response a few minutes ago. You can PM me as needed.




Both our District and Regional Auditions are open to the public; and we love having an audience.




The Regionals are coming up next week on the 14th at Merkin Hall. You can register to attend [http://Dear Eric, Both our District and Regional Auditions are open to the public; and we love having an audience. The Regionals are coming up next week on the 14th at Merkin Hall. You can register to attend here.]here.




If your friend would like to stay up-to-date on all our events, she can also sign up for our newsletter on our website.




Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.




Kind regards,






photo Stefanie Van Steelandt

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera auditions - ever gone?
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 02:17 PM

How kind of you, EBarnacle!

I hope your friend can take her daughter, leeneia. It sounds fascinating. (I hope you can go too!)

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 02:53 PM

I just looked at their programme. What a direly narrow selection of tired old warhorses.

Give me Scottish Opera's repertoire any day (which this season goes back to Handel and forward to a commissioned premiere).

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 09:28 PM

Jack....

Did you ever remember the name of the American group you requested information on...just off the sporting fields in Scotland this New Year?

You made a request about vampires. But, you appeared too sodden at the time to recall.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 09:40 PM

Thanks for passing on the note, EBarnacle.

As for the visit, negotiations are underway re the various obligations which a hard-working, gifted, stressed-out middle-class female teen is supposed to cope with these days.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 07 Jan 16 - 11:30 PM

There is a feature length documentary about the 2007 auditions at the Met's on demand page--I can't paste a link, because it's on-demand, and you theoretically have to pay, only you can sign up for 7 days of free viewing, which also lets you see some full Met productions.

As per Jack's comment, sadly, yes. "Expect the expected..." "Lulu" is in the schedule, though, and that is a horse of a different color (sorry). I looked at the Scottish Opera season, and it was interesting.

Although it is probably true that every night of the season, La Boheme is being performed somewhere, it is also likely true that there are many more productions of of newer and less known works than ever. Sadly, more expensive than ever, as well...

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 09:59 AM

Thia thread is about the Met auditions, in which trained singers age 20 to 30 sing arias for judges, receive feedback, and compete for the top prize, which is $15,000 and the chance to sing on the Met stage in New York.

I'm wondering whether it would be encouraging or discouraging for a high-school singer to be in the audience.

If you want to complain about opera management, start your own thread.

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 10:36 AM

If New York City Opera revives in anything resembling former self, they would be a much more interesting option, if they do any comparable open auditions.

But surely any singer would benefit from watching the Met's event?

Subject: RE: Metropolitan Opera audtions - ever gone?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 05:25 AM

New York City Opera Renaissance is starting pretty much from scratch, and may not even be the legal successor to NYCO. It's all still in court. As I understand it, all the education and outreach that they were once famous for has gone by the boards. No clue as to how auditions are being handled now..

Leeneia isn't in NYC--the auditions she's talking about are, I think, in Minneapolis--though I didn't realize that she lived there--the Prokovieff that she doesn't want to see is "Three Oranges", which, as I remember, is not bleak, but to each his own.

Anyway, my displeasure is rooted in the fact that I am probably never going to see another opera in my life. Center Orchestra tickets at the Met are $450+, my favorites, in the front areas of the first balcony, are $250+, and the most distant, highest up are $50+. Parking(as if anyone drives to the Met) is $34, and that is out of my league.

Lulu will be on the Saturday radio broadcast later this year, tho--and I think there is a video, which is something.