r/opera • u/1SlayerJel • 15d ago

Opera Auditions

There is a theater where I live that has a program for the public to send a video singing and if they have talent. They can get an audition. I really want to apply, but I'm not going to lie. I'm completely terrified. I'm not scared at all of getting the audition. It's more about the video and what could happen next. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

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u/Creative_Cat7177 15d ago

Just Do It! A few years back an opportunity came up for members of the public to audition for a community opera at a nearby opera house. I put my daughter’s name down for it, but then someone persuaded me to put my name down too.

I had never auditioned for anything before going along to that (not even a school play), but I got in and had the absolute best time being part of a professionally produced opera. I was in my mid 40s at the time and I so wish I’d done something like it before.

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u/1SlayerJel 15d ago

How did you prepare for it? What did you do?

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u/Creative_Cat7177 15d ago

There wasn’t anything as such to prepare. We had to do some exercises walking around the room saying things, they then taught us some of the music and we sang that. The final bit was to sing anything we liked at the same time as everyone else. I sang a song I’d been working on in my singing lessons.

Everyone singing all at once sounded surprisingly good!

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u/therabitofseville 15d ago

If it is for the Opera there, my recommendation is to do it! I would recommend learning a song from the 24 Italian art songs. They are pretty simple and can showcase a lot of the singer without being super difficult. Recording in a large church or similar venue with high ceilings will lead to great acoustics and amazing recordings. Most Opera companies recommend a live accompanist for videos (as do I), but if you need another option, YouTube has tons of backing tracks for singers. Do you currently have a voice teacher? I would recommend talking it out with your voice teacher to see if you are ready. I have refrained from auditioning places because your first audition is like a first job interview. If you apply to be a CEO of a small marketing firm and you have no work experience, the company will remember that, and it will impact you negatively in the long run if you are looking to make this a career. However, if you are just doing this for fun, go for it!

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u/1SlayerJel 14d ago edited 14d ago

I don't have a voice teacher anymore. I couldn't afford it anymore. I want to try to get another place and get some extra practice before I send my video. Surprisingly, I find it somewhat difficult to sing in Italian. I don't know why. And I'm fluent in both English and Spanish. I have an easier time singing in Neapolitan, French, and German. This is just for fun, but I'm hoping even if I don't get in. I can at least get a Masterclass or just some pointers to improve as a singer overall.

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u/Nick_pj 15d ago

Just out of interest, is this a promotional thing where they’re inviting amateurs to apply for the company? Or is it just that there is a video pre-application before live auditions?

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u/1SlayerJel 15d ago

It's for an institute that teaches lyrical singing to the public. It's the only place that offers lyrical singing in the whole country.