Opera Southwest is accepting applications for six singers in an Apprentice Artist Program (Friday, September 27 through Sunday, October 27, 2019).
These six singers will cover the leading roles as well as performing supporting roles and/or singing in the chorus in Giovanni Bottesini’s ALÌBABÀ, a 19thcentury comic opera in vein of Donizetti’s DON PASQUALE. The opera will be sung in Italian. Performances with orchestra are October 20, (23), 25 & 27, 2019. Singers will be given Italian classes with Mo Anthony Barrese and will be presented in a formal Apprentices recital.
Opera Southwest is committed to inclusive casting, considering all ethnicities, races, gender expressions, sexualities, disabilities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, ages, countries of origin, and other identities. Artists of color and specifically artists of Middle Eastern descent are encouraged to apply.
Soprano Apprentice
- To cover the role of Delia
- To sing in chorus of ALÌ BABÀ
Tenor Apprentice
- To sing the role of Faor in ALÌ BABÀ (& to sing in the chorus where appropriate)
- To cover the role of Nadir
Tenor Apprentice
- To sing the role of Thamar in ALÌ BABÀ (& to sing in the chorus where appropriate)
- To cover the role of Faor
Baritone Apprentice
- To cover the role of Orsocane
- To sing in the chorus of ALÌ BABÀ
Bass Baritone Apprentice
- To cover the role of Alì Babà
- To sing in the chorus of ALÌ BABÀ
Bass Apprentice
- To sing the role of Calaf in ALÌ BABÀ (& to sing in the chorus where appropriate)
- To cover the role of Aboul Hassan
One round-trip plane ticket, housing, local transportation, and a weekly stipend of $385 are provided.
Application Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2019
Application Fee: none
Application Requirements: Contact information and 2 video links of arias (at least one in Italian)
Audition Dates and locations:
Wilmington, Delaware:
May 6, 2019, Opera Delaware Studios
4 S Poplar St, Wilmington, DE 19801
Albuquerque, New Mexico:
May 8, 2019, First United Methodist Church
315 Coal Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Chicago, Illinois:
May 11, 2018, Irving Park Lutheran Church
3938 W Belle Plaine Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
If you are selected for a live audition, we will ask for 2 contrasting arias, one of which must be in Italian. A pianist will be available at no cost to the singer in all three audition locations. Singers may, of course, bring their own accompanists.
Program Dates: September 27 – October 27, 2019
Maximum age: 35
All singers will be notified of the results of the live auditions by Monday, May 13th 2019.
Singers from outside of the United States: If you do not have an existing work visa for the USA, we are unable to process your Opera Southwest apprentice application. A tourist visa cannot be used for the program because we cannot pay your stipend unless you have a work authorization.
Questions? Contact David Bartholomew, Auditions Coordinator at c. 253-278-4849 Bartholomew_d@msn.com.
