Opera
The Audition
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Fly-on-the-wall doc on operatic auditions
A film that takes you backstage at the Metropolitan Opera’s national auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls face their fears and compete for a cash prize and the chance to sing on the Met stage.
The Audition, directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage–and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The film covers the dramatic week leading up to the finals of the 2007 auditions, focusing on three very different tenor contestants: Michael Fabiano, a fiery 22-year-old grappling with his inner demons; Alek Shrader, a 25-year-old with movie-star looks who attempts to sing nine high Cs in the fiendishly difficult aria that made Pavarotti a star; and Ryan Smith, who at the age of 30, and with little formal training, is pursuing his dream of an operatic career.
The Audition is a revealing backstage look at what it takes to make it as an opera singer.
Directed by Susan Froemke
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Latest comments
P R Archer
Sun 23 August 2009, 19:54
What happened to Ryan Smith?
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Sheila Haslam
Sun 23 August 2009, 22:38
I enjoy immensely almost all the Sky Arts 2 programmes but especially the music - the whole family feel privileged to be able to access all the excellent coverage on opera. Is it possible to see the biographies of the singers in the Met Audition programme please?
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S. A Whitehead
Mon 24 August 2009, 08:26
The audition programme was fantastic, but I was shocked when they announced why the programme was dedicated to Ryan Smith. Are there any plans to repeat this?
I love the coverage of the NY Met, complete with the backstage interviews and interval events; it’s a total package. I agree with Sheila Haslam, in that sometimes we lose out in not having copies of the opera programmes to hand for more background to the artists, especially in the auditions programme.
Please, keep on doing whatever it is you’re doing as far as these broadcasts are concerned. I saw the Fleming opening night Gala in Cineworld last year, but it only screened the Traviata, not the Manon Lescaut, or the Capriccio, so looking fwd to seeing it tonight. Wish I had a dvd recorder.
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Lorenzo
Mon 24 August 2009, 22:53
Ryan Smith died of lymphoma last November, while being a first-year ensemble member of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center.
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hannah
Fri 25 March 2011, 18:50
I loved Ryan’s performance and I miss him a lot.
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Nigel Soni www.powerspeaking.co.uk
Fri 29 April 2011, 17:46
What a lovely man with a real gift which he pursued against all odds. How wonderful that he achieved an amazing ambition and sang at The Met.
During his performance in ‘The Audition’ he was transformed and I was so sad, when at the end it said he had died.
Rest, now, in peace and sing with the angels.
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