DIDO and AENEAS AUDITIONS

Type of post:	Opera news item
Sub-type:	No sub-type
Posted By:	Helena Payne
Status:	Current
Date Posted:	Fri, 23 Feb 2024

Somerset Opera present Dido and Aeneas at the Museum of Somerset in partnership with the Taunton Sinfonietta

Directed by Guido Martin Brandis and with Musical Direction by Noah Mosely, Somerset Opera will be performing Purcell’s 17th century Dido & Aeneas, next to the 4th century Low Ham mosaic, in the Great Hall, at The Museum of Somerset this July. The mosaic depicts the tragic love story of Dido & Aeneas which is the oldest object in Britain that tells a complete story. The Museum of Somerset is a unique building that acts as a prism for Somerset’s rich local heritage and a gateway to the stories that the mosaic and other installations represent. This makes it the perfect venue for our show which will combine contemporary tropes and 17th-century music with the story’s Roman Britain backdrop. We will explore themes of time, fate, and determinism as well as delivering the music to a professionally high standard and creating opportunities for young people to take part in and experience opera in an accessible and engaging way.

Performances are on the 10th, 11^th and 12^th of July at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton
Principal rehearsals in St George’s Hall Taunton:
Evenings of 20^th of June and 27^th of June (7:00pm-9:30pm)
Day time: 30^th June-4th July (10:00am-6:00pm)
Full Day Sitzprobe: 6^th July (10:00 am-6:00pm)
Full Day: Tech and Dress: 7^th (July 9:00am-5:30pm)

We are looking for 5 Opera singers from Somerset or with a strong connection to the South West for the following roles. A figure of £500 is guaranteed with travel covered and the option of accommodation if needed as well. However, we have submitted an application for Arts Council funding and should we be successful then pay will rise to £1500 per singer for the engagement.

Dido
Soprano/ Mezzo-Soprano

Aeneas
Tenor/ Baritone

Sorceress and others
Mezzo-Soprano/ Contralto/ Counter-tenor

Belinda and others
Soprano/ Mezzo-Soprano

Second Woman / Attendant and others
Soprano

The following parts: First Witch, Second Witch, Spirit, and Sailor will be shared amongst the singers we cast and with our fabulous Chorus.

Auditions will be in Taunton on the 2^nd of April. Please register your interest at chairman@somersetopera.org.uk

Please prepare a short aria in English that is baroque or classical era and be ready to have your piece worked on dramatically.

Somerset Opera are aiming for this process to be open, flexible, and collaborative, as such we are looking for artists who are comfortable and enthusiastic about working with people of all levels of experience.