This is the thread for discussing all things related to the exciting and prestigious...
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions!
This opera competition is a main conduit through which exceptionally talented young opera singers in the U.S. are discovered. All participants also gain valuable feedback from opera professionals.
National Council Auditions
I first became aware of the Met's National Council Auditions competition when my dad invited me to see the documentary, "The Audition," which offers an intimate view into the lives of opera singers hoping to break into the big time. This movie increased my interest in opera music substantially by making opera music
personal:
"The Audition" - Documentary about The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Documentary "The Audition" at the Music Academy of the West - YouTube
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Right now in the U.S., district auditions for the 2012 competition are occurring. These are the first level of the competition. I was lucky enough to be present at one of the district auditions. It lasted 5 hours and included almost 30 young opera singers, each performing two arias.
All of the competitors sang excellently, yet after hearing so many sing I could definitely pick out *my* favorites due to their sweet vocal quality, large size of voice, and the emotion they invested in their theatrical interpretations of the pieces.
The young opera singer whom I admired the most was...(drum roll)...
Leah McIntire-Barnett:
I hope Leah will get all the way in the competition to New York City!! You can hear her singing in the YouTube videos below:
Leah McIntire-Barnett, Soprano
singing "Ah, fors' e lui...Sempre libera" from La Traviata, by Verdi
Leah wore this very same sapphire blue dress when I saw her sing this piece!
I jotted down next to her picture on the program, "Glamorous with a sweet, strong, lovely voice; clear high notes; emotional."
Sempre libera - YouTube
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Leah McIntire-Barnett, Soprano
performing "Nacht und Traume" by Franz Schubert
Nacht und Traume - Leah McIntire-Barnett - YouTube
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So, who among you (if anyone) is following or has followed The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions?
Who are your favorite current competitors or winners from the past?