Auditions at the Opera [OTA]

[spookinasuit]

Saturday finds me back at the opera house after a couple of days off. I'm more confident about putting on a production now that I know Holmes definitely couldn't care less, hence the open announcement of the auditions. I hope to get some more people interested this way, so let's see who's shown up for "The Abduction from the SeraglioI've taken a

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[faramir_hurin]

It has been some time since I stood on a stage, and longer since I've stood on this one, but I do remember and don't feel uncomfortable.

"I am Faramir of Gondor," I begin, not knowing this man by sight. "I contacted you and did decide to audition."

I smile.

"The baritone." If he doesn't remember.

[spookinasuit]

I remember his messages. "I'm glad you did, Faramir." I hope that's the right way to address him, Mrs. of Gondor sounds weird to my ears.

He seems relaxed enough, that's a good sign. "So, which role did you decide to audition for - the Pasha?" His speaking voice doesn't sound like a bass-baritone, which doesn't necessarily mean a thing, but it makes me think it would probably be the better choice than one of the singing roles.

[faramir_hurin]

"The speaking role, yes. Unless you feel I would better serve elsewhere." None of the main roles are in my range and the information I read said that the role of Osmin was particularly challenging.

"I have several things I could sing. One is very short, a chant really. That's in the language of the Rohirrim. There is a longer piece in Sindarin. That's an Elvish language."

I shrug.

"I did say that the languages I knew were not from Earth."

[spookinasuit]

I smile at him reassuringly. "The language you use is much less important than the way you use your voice. Opera singers often have to sing in languages they don't really speak. Phonetic spelling of the texts helps in such cases."

Concerning the pieces he's offering me... "What type is the Elvish piece? You described the other one as a chant..." I'd like to hear him sing, just to be sure of his singing voice.

[faramir_hurin]

If there's one thing I know how to use--besides books--it's my voice. I know I'm not the greatest singer, though I do well enough. Several hundred rangers could vouch for my speaking abilities.

"The Elvish piece is one of the old ballads. Such things are very well-known where I come from." At least this one is. "Shall I begin with that?"

[spookinasuit]

I nod. "Please do."

[faramir_hurin]

It is old, though not terribly so by Elvish standards. It honours my own ancestor, Elendil, who was killed by Sauron more than three thousand years ago. The high king was lost, but his sons Isildur and Anarion ruled on.

Not that anyone else here in the village is aware of that. Were the being calling himself Annatar here, I would have sung something else. This piece is very strong, written for Men. At home, everyone knows it.

[spookinasuit]

I don't understand the words, but I listen to the way he performs. Not a bass-baritone for certain, but he's got a good voice. It carries well and even unfamiliar with the language, I believe I can detect the separate words. But there's more I notice - he brings across a certain ... emotion with his words that seems to come from beyond the melody. As if it has a special meaning for him. If we can get him to perform like that...

"Thank you," I say when he is finished. "It's an impressive piece."

[faramir_hurin]

"Thank you." As though I had anything to do with it, really. "The Elves know what they're doing."

That happens when you're immortal.

"Did you need anything else? I was in the Shakespeare play and can recite from that if you wish." I don't know what he needs for a speaking part in a singing production. I'm quite curious why there are such roles.

[spookinasuit]

"Something in a language I can understand would be helpful indeed." And it's useful information that he's been on stage in a speaking role before.

[faramir_hurin]

That makes me laugh.

"I played Leonato, father to Hero." Described in the play as an old man, which I found very amusing, as my real father was also in the play.

I studied my role again, guessing that I might well need to recite from it, so the words come very easily. I suppose they always did, being more like my own speech (except for being poetry) than that of the modern people.

[spookinasuit]

Leonato, Hero... too bad I've never been into Shakespeare so I can't place them. But I can listen to his performance and it's a good delivery.

"It shows that you're very familiar with the words. When was this performance?" I don't remember any play being on since I got here.

[faramir_hurin]

I have to think when the play was.

"Mid-summer, nearly two years ago." Has it been so long? "The language came very easily to me, as it's a bit more like we speak at home--not so artfully, of course."

I know nothing at all of the language of this opera but perhaps I can learn. I've come some little way in French.

[spookinasuit]

That's been a while, yet his delivery was very good.

"So, Faramir, I liked your performances so far. If you want to give the Pasha's role a try, I've prepared a little something. As you said you're not familiar with the language, I wrote a few sentences down phonetically for an English speaker as well as their English translation." It's the moment in the second act when Selim demands Konstanze's love and threatens to use force.

I pick up a sheet of paper from the seat next to me and get up to walk to the stage. "Take a moment to study it, then see if you can handle the words that way." I hold out the sheet to him.

[faramir_hurin]

For a moment, I am on the verge of saying that I don't know English either, but I do. That is, what I think of as the common tongue of Westron is English to people here. I take the paper with a 'thank you' and step back to read it.

The language seems quite harsh to me, nothing at all like the Elvish languages, but as long as I can pronounce it that's all I care about. The subject matter... Well, I remember what the 'not-Faramir' did exactly, and I think I can do that. That's not like acting at all, though it may well make me feel ill when I'm finished.

A few of the words I say out loud, though quietly, to make them a little more familiar. Then I step back and begin to do the actual reading.

I don't think I do too badly. My memory is good but in a language I'm sure I've never heard before it's difficult.

[spookinasuit]

I return to my seat while he goes over the lines and wait until he feels ready to speak them. I could only guess with a few of the words myself, I know some words in German but not everything. But I've heard the opera before, so that's where the translated version came from, my memory. I'll have to do better for the real production, but who is going to notice the odd flaw here anyway? That's my thoughts while he's studying the words, but then he steps forward again and I observe him and listen.

It doesn't sound all that bad to me, considering he only prepared for a moment.

"Not bad. Do you think you could handle the text that way?" If he does, I think I'm ready to cast him.