The Singer's Audition & Career Handbook is available for pre-order and will be released October 15, 2019. The following is an excerpt from Chapter 7: Choosing Audition Repertoire.
from Chapter 7: Choosing Audition Repertoire
When developing an audition package for both degree programs and opera companies, you must consider:
- What you most love to perform
- Your current strengths
- Your full range of skills
Further considerations for opera companies include:
- Aria length, complexity & familiarity
- What the market wants to hear
Choose Repertoire You Love
Each person you sing for will have different opinions regarding what songs and arias are most suitable for your voice, but the stories you tell and the characters you embody most successfully will be those closest to your heart. Always welcome repertoire advice and suggestions from those you trust, but the only material that will serve you well in auditions is that which resonates with you vocally, emotionally and dramatically. When you exude genuine enthusiasm and commitment, the effect on the panel is contagious; however, without that spark of authenticity, the most impeccably delivered performance will likely fail to impress.
Play to Your Superpowers
Present repertoire that you can sing brilliantly with the voice you have right now. Generally speaking, your audition arias should be drawn from roles you are ready to perform in full. Your repertoire should highlight the vocal and performance skills that make you stand out and instill you with pride and confidence. Set aside any piece that significantly risks blowing a high note or running out of breath midway through a crucial phrase. Audition panels will never favor the singer who presents the most “difficult” repertoire over the one who moves them deeply. They will hire the singer who best fits their casting needs. As you can never accurately anticipate what those needs may be, offer them the most sincere, confident and beautiful singing that you possibly can.
Show Your Full Range of Skills
Your repertoire package should demonstrate everything you enjoy and do well. Make sure to represent the languages, musical styles, technical skills and types of characters that you perform most effectively. Avoid showcasing your flaws by including, for example, a coloratura passage you cannot perform accurately or a low note that exposes uneven registration.
Consider Aria Length, Complexity & Familiarity
- The shorter your arias, the more of your selections the audition panel will have time to hear. When offering a long aria, be prepared for the possibility of being asked to sing only part of it.
- If you are unable to bring a pianist to your audition with whom you have thoroughly rehearsed, do not offer an aria with a complex and challenging piano reduction.
- Prioritize familiar repertoire. Offering an unusual aria may express your courage and originality, but unfamiliar repertoire can make it difficult for the panel to assess your singing if they have neither dramatic context for the aria nor an awareness of its range and challenges. Feel free to include one or two unusual selections, but round out your package with standard fare. What makes a familiar aria special is the fact that you’re the one singing it.
Be Mindful of Current Hiring Practices
Study the careers of professional singers whose voices and skill sets are similar to yours and note the roles that are on their calendars for the next few seasons. While it’s paramount that you follow your heart where repertoire choices are concerned, an awareness of where your voice is currently of greatest value in the market should also influence your choices.
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