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IolantheorThe Peer and The Peri |
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For our 36th annual fall production (performances on November 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14), the VLO is presenting Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, or The Peer and The Peri. which we last produced in 2000. This delightful whimsy pits stuffy, blue-blooded members of the House of Lords against a group of “dainty little fairies” led by a Fairy Queen who may remind you of Wagner's Brunnhilde. With a protagonist who is half-fairy and half-mortal, a Lord Chancellor who positively trips over his own legal arguments, and a wickedly timely political context, the dialogue and the plot simply sparkle with wit. And the music, as always, is glorious!
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Audition Questions? Music Director: Michael Greenebaum: (413) 256-4244,
mlgreenebaum@gmail.com |
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You've never auditioned before? Very few of our chorus members had auditioned elsewhere before they tried out for us that first time! While auditions can be nerve-wracking for newcomers and seasoned veterans alike, we try to make them as simple and non-threatening as possible. You will sing before a small committee of five or six people. We look for voice projection, intonation, musical quality, diction, and stage presence. You will be taught and then asked to perform a short easy bit of choreography. If you are auditioning for a principal role, please sing a number associated with that role, if possible. Suggested audition pieces for each role are given as part of the character sketches below. You should also expect to read dialogue associated with the role.
We will provide an accompanist, and will have vocal scores available for all G&S operas. If you wish to sing something else, please bring a copy for the accompanist and one for yourself. We will ask all auditioners to sing on the platform facing the audience.
An Iolanthe vocal score and CD will be on reserve at the Jones Library in Amherst, and numbers from the score may be copied there. The score is also available on-line at the G & S Archives at http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/.
Callbacks: If we feel we need more information in some cases to cast principals, we will hold a callback session on Monday evening, May 17, at a location to be announced to participants. We expect to notify all those auditioning for principal roles of the results of their auditions by Tuesday evening (May 18) at the latest. Chorus notifications may take a bit longer but should be completed by the end of the week.
Directions to First Congregational Church: From the traffic light in the center of Amherst (Bank of America on one corner, Subway sandwich shop diagonally across), take Main Street east two blocks. The church is on the right, just beyond the police station. You may park in the lot at the rear of the church, or on the street. You'll be greeted in the hallway near the sanctuary. (View Map)
Iolanthe, mezzo-soprano (c-e') suggested audition: p 196 S (171dl) -- A fairy, and Strephon's mother who looks to be "a girl of seventeen." Elegant of movement; capable of sustained emotional highs and lows. This is a dramatic role.
Phyllis, lyric soprano (A-a') suggested audition: p 102 S (91 dl) -- An Arcadian shepherdess and Ward in Chancery. A pretty, coquettish character who bedazzles the men. She has a clear, flute-like voice; naturally temperamental and delicately determined.
Queen of the Fairies, contralto (G-c') suggested audition: p158 S (141dl) or p 118 @Y (106dl) -- A commanding presence with a powerful voice and gestures; imposing and haughty but also lovable, attractive and comically amorous.
Celia, soprano (d-g') suggested audition: p15 S (16dl) -- A fairy. Airy and flitty with delicate gestures. Good dancer.
Leila, mezzo-soprano (c-e') suggested audition: p17 S (18dl) -- A fairy. Perhaps more earthy than Celia. Good dancer.
Fleta, chorus member with speaking part -- A fairy. More "vacant" than the others. Good dancer.
Strephon, baritone (A'-d) suggested audition: p 98 S (86dl) -- An Arcadian shepherd whose upper half is a fairy and whose lower half is mortal -- confident and unabashed, with a resonant, clear voice. A "Dudley Do-Right" type of character.
Lord Chancellor, baritone (Bb'-e) suggested audition: p 167 S (147dl) -- Irascible yet benign. Must have flawless, effortless diction, good stamina, agility and perfect timing. He moves in and out of scenes quickly.
Lord Tolloller, tenor (F-a) suggested audition: p 73 S (66dl) -- Aristocratic to the point of effeteness; supercilious. He is light on his feet and able to move somewhat gracefully in a comical way.
Lord Mountararat, baritone (A'-d) suggested audition: p 153 S (136dl) -- Discreetly arrogant, slightly pompous, with a rich, full voice. He is light on his feet and able to move somewhat gracefully in a comical way.
Private Willis, bass (Bb'-d) suggested audition: p 144 S (128 dl) -- A Grenadier Guard. Low-born, imperturbable, matter-of-fact, stiff-bearing with expressive facial features (rolling of the eyes, etc.)
Chorus women -- There will be three types of fairies. The wood sprites and water fairies are more lithe and will be asked to do simple dance moves. The garden fairies are more sedentary but will also be asked to dance in a "subtler" way. It would be nice to have some fairies capable of walkovers and other simple gymnastic movements.
Chorus men are members of the House of Lords -- dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons and others. The men will be "on the move" as well. You will be asked to perform as a drill team on occasion and do simple dance movements such as galloping like a horse. As with the fairies, there will be a place for the more "sedentary" of the peers.
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Send Questions/Comments to: info@vlo.org