AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Hello, I am a senior this year in a vocal program at my school near Baltimore. I am trying to put together some songs for an audition rep. for scholarships, competitions, and college auditions.
I was just wondering your thoughts on them... I know its difficult as you've never heard me before but appropriateness and difficulty and such would be great to know.
I am a baritone (though people keep on saying they hear a tenor ring in my upper notes, that confuses the heck out of me...lol) my (functional) range is Ab - G and personally I prefer dark material and tend to dwell in the Schubert Lieder a lot...lol
This what I was thinking of...
Oratorio (order of fondness):
1.Frondi Tenere (recit)... Ombra Mai Fu- Handel (Xerxes)
2.O Loss of Sight (recit)... Total Eclipse- Handel (Samson)
3.Lord God of Abraham- (The Messiah)
Aria:
When the Air Sings of Summer- Menotti (Old Maid and the Thief)
O cessate di piagarmi
Gia il sole dal Gange
Pieta Signore
English Art Song:
Come Away Death- Finzi
Come Away Death- Quilter
Lieder:
Der Doppelganger
Der Atlas
Aufenthalt
In der Ferne
What do you think? I could always use more suggestions to choose from...
What are some good opera college programs? Can you give me a list? I hear Boston Conservatory has a really good one... I'm preferably looking for a BFA
Justin
Oh and is there a rule with transposition concerning classical material... I know in musical theatre its no big deal but like transposing oratorio or such a half step or so...?
Answer Hi Justin,
You have excellent choices for the school auditions. Given that I haven't heard you it is a bit hard for me to judge - but my general belief is that you should do the pieces that you love, that you know backwards & forwards, that you feel the most confident in. Having said that here are some comments:
For university music schools you usually need German, Italian, English and French plus an aria and oratorio. For competitions - you might need a few more arias...
On the oratorio - the Ombra Mai Fu is fine and if that is your favorite I don't see why you can't go with it - although I also reallylike Total Eclipse - and that one isn't done as much.
I love the Old Mail and the Thief aria - really one of my favorites for baritone. If you have a beautiful, bel canto sound - it will be great. I also like the 3 Italian arias - but since most of your options are slower and more dark, as you say, I might offer the Gia il sole dal Gange - would show more movement. You might look at Silvio's aria from Pagliacci - E fra quest'anise...E allor perchè - it might be too difficult - but it's also beautiful.
If you need an Italian song - look at Donaudy's 36 arie di stile antico - esp. "o del mio amato ben" - it's beautiful..
Both of the English songs are good - I guess I like the Quilter better - but you should do what you want. Why don't you also look at the Copland Old American Songs - they are terrific - and not too hard. There are 2 sets - published by Boosey & Hawkes. Also Benjamin Britten arranged some English Songs that are wonderful as well.
On the German - again - if everything else is darker and slower - you might go with Der Atlas for a bit of a change... but I like all of the choices. Maybe also look at Schumann's Widmung.
On the opera college programs - there are many excellent ones. Of course, living in NYC I always mention Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music (where I went) and Mannes School of Music. Also since you are in Baltimore what about Peabody? And I know the Dean at Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University in DC. Murry Sidlin is a great educator as well as a working conductor - and he has a good program there as well. There really are so many excellent programs it's hard to go through all of them. You might want to check out www.classicalsinger.com - they do have a fee to join but they have just done a big survey on all of the college programs - so it might be helpful to look at that data.
On transposing - in the classical world it's rarely done and is usually looked down on - so stick with the original key if you can.
I wish you all the best. You are definitely on the right track - you have a good selection and you are asking the right questions.
