Cambridge University Baroque Ensemble is pleased to announce auditions
for a major staged operatic production next academic year:
'ORFEO' by CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI at the ADC THEATRE,
Week 2, Lent Term 2009 (27th-31st January)
Initial Auditions - Friday 20th June.
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*The Production*
This ambitious production will feature a large Renaissance orchestra and offer cast members the opportunity to work alongside a professional team of leading Cambridge early music specialists. Performed in English, 'Orfeo' will feature a new, especially-prepared singing translation of this timeless story.
Visually, the opera will be equally ambitious - fully staged, and making
comprehensive use of the ADC Theatre's potential for set, costume, lighting
and technical wizardry - a true showpiece of the 2008-09 season.
The roles of the opera are as follows:
Orfeo - Tenor,
Euridice - Soprano,
Musica - Soprano,
Messenger - Soprano/Mezzo-soprano,
Hope - Soprano,
Charon - Bass,
Persephone - Soprano,
Pluto - Bass,
Apollo - Tenor,
Ensemble – SSATB, from which up to ten smaller solo roles (Shepherd/Nymph/Spirit) will be drawn.
Rehearsals will take place steadily throughout the Michaelmas and early
Lent terms, with a short intensive rehearsal period before term starts in
January. We are seeking singers able and enthusiastic to become fully
immersed in the production; it's music, sound-world, movement and staging.
The core production team is as follows:
Musical Director - Francis Knights (fk240),
Assistant Musical Director – Dr Dan Tidhar (dut20),
Orchestral Leader – Dr David Irving (drmi2),
Stage Director - Claire V.S. Pike (cvsp2),
Producer - Robert Nimmo (rn269)
*Auditions*
Initial auditions will take place this Friday, 20th June, 11 - 2pm in
central Cambridge.
If you are interested in auditioning and able to attend on this date,
please email cvsp2@cam.ac.uk to book a slot, indicating your voice type and
preferred audition time.
If you wish to audition but cannot do so on the 20th, please email
(cvsp2@cam.ac.uk) to register your interest as we will be arranging further audition dates.
Please bring a suitable piece to sing for the audition, such as a Baroque aria or Dowland lute song. You are welcome to bring an accompanist, but otherwise one will be provided (please bring two copies of your music).
We very much look forward to hearing from you for what promises to be an
extremely exciting project!
*Orchestra and Production Team*
There will be separate calls for Instrumentalists, Dancers and Production
Team shortly, but anyone potentially interested in such performing or
back-stage roles is welcome to get in touch (cvsp2@cam.ac.uk) now. The
orchestra will consist of continuo (harpsichords, organ, lutes, harp),
strings, wind/brass (recorders, cornetts, trombones) and percussion.
