The deadline for this audition opportunity has passed.

Audition notice for a young boy soprano’s role in Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti part of Calgary Opera’s Christmas at the Opera.

Audition Dates: June 10 and 11, 2019, with second-round call-back auditions June 20 and 21, 2019.
Location: Mamdani Opera Centre (1315 7th St. SW)
Audition Times: To be scheduled late afternoon and early evening. Please see how to sign-up below.
Performance Dates: December 6 – 8, 2019 (three evening and two matinee performances)
Rehearsal Dates: November 23 to December 6, 2019 (to be scheduled afternoons, evenings and weekends)
Character: Amahl, an impoverished 12 year-old boy who walks with the help of a crutch.
Voice Type: Boy soprano

This 45-minute, one-act opera is a classic Christmas story, told from the point of view of a young boy who encounters the Three Kings, offers his crutch to the Jesus child and is miraculously healed.

Candidates must be available for rehearsals (to be scheduled evenings and weekends) November 26 to December 6 and performances on the evenings of December 6,7,8 and afternoons of December 7 and 8, 2019.

Although the stated character age is 12 years, singers auditioning may be slightly younger or older.

Two singers will be chosen to sing in the performances at the Mamdani Opera Centre.

Important

All candidates auditioning must have soprano voices. They should have good musical skills, be rhythmically secure and independent and be comfortable singing with others. Some stage/acting experience is an asset.

Candidates must be prepared to sing four selections from memory and with piano accompaniment (supplied).

1) Three excerpts from the Amahl role, available for download at calgaryopera.com.

2) A fourth selection with piano accompaniment of the candidate’s choice suitable for unchanged childrens’ voices in classical style. This may be a simple art song or folk song or traditional musical theatre written for children. Examples of the latter would include excerpts from the children’s’ roles in Oliver, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, etc. The selection should be no more than two to three minutes in length, show off the middle and higher part of their voice and have piano accompaniment.

Unaccompanied selections or selections with pre-recorded tracks will not be accepted as audition selections. We ask that children do not audition with hip-hop, rap, rock, pop or musical theatre pieces written for adults that require belting or any operatic pieces composed for adult voices. Music that a child can perform confidently and that allows them to sing with a natural child’s sound will give the committee the best chance of assessing their ability.

Auditions will be video-taped for reference.

An accompanist will be supplied for the audition who will play for all candidates.

How to Sign-Up for an Audition

Once you have read through all of the details above, downloaded the musical excerpts required for the audition and considered them for their suitability, please email Nicola Dawes, Artist Relations Coordinator, at ndawes@calgaryopera.com to obtain an audition time for June 10 or 11, 2019.