Auditions for The Wreckers

Island City Opera’s 2020 Production

Valhalla Productions is proud to be once again joining with Island City Opera in a production of Dame Ethel Smyth's The Wrecker. This will be only the second staged performance in America of this landmark and exciting work, and the west coast premiere. The performances will be on Mar. 20, 22, 26, and 28, 2020. The opera will be sung in anewly adapted English translation of the original French libretto (first performed in German), based on the composer's own adaptation. The opera will be conducted by Jonathan Khuner and staged by Richard Bogart. All performances will be at the Elks Ballroom in Alameda, Island City Opera’s home.

Auditions for chorus and for covers of some of the principal roles in Island City Opera's production of Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers will be held on August 31 and September 14. The auditions will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2362 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Singers may audition for both. If you are interested in auditioning, please read the information below and contact Ellen St. Thomas, estthomas (at) islandcityopera.org

Information for Chorus Auditions

Chorus auditions will involve group ensembles singing an assigned chorus excerpt from the opera which will be prepared at the audition. All singers auditioning for the chorus should arrive at 2 PM and be prepared to stay until 4 PM. Please see the following materials:

Score for the Audition Excerpt
A Complete Vocal Score Please note that we are using a specially arranged libretto for the performance, so the words in this score will not always be the same as those in the audition excerpt, nor in the complete scores that will be made available to the cast. The music is of course the same.
An Audio Clip of the Audition Excerpt

There will be a very large chorus, more than can fit onto the stage. About half the chorus will be staged, and half will sing from behind the orchestra. Those singing with the orchestra will of course be excused from most of the staging rehearsals, and will be able to use music. All chorus members, whether staged or not, will sing all chorus numbers, including both onstage and offstage music. You may indicate your preference for staged or unstaged chorus when you sign up for the audition.

Information for Cover Auditions

All of the principal roles are cast. However, covers are still open for most of the roles. If you are interested in auditioning for a cover role, you must sign up for an individual time slot between 4 and 6 PM on the day of the auditions and be prepared to sing an aria of your choice in English. Singers may of course audition both for chorus and for cover roles.