DATES

Leads will be provided a private coaching session with Peter Roennfeldt in the week prior to the performance weekend. Thirty minutes with Peter will be allocated per aria and timings are to be organised on an individual basis.

Sunday 23 June AUDITION 10am to 4pm
Sunday 30 June CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT
Saturday 26 October CHORUS MUSIC CALL 2:30pm to 5:30pm
Thursday 31st October CHORUS MUSIC CALL 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Friday 1 November INTRODUCTION including a presentation on Baroque Style and Ornamentation 6pm to 8pm
Saturday 2 November WORKSHOP 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm, 7pm to 9pm
Sunday 3 November WORKSHOP and PERFORMANCE 9am to 12:30pm, 1:30pm to 4:30pm, Performance at 6pm

Please note that this schedule is a draft and may be subject to change.

ROLES

We are casting for 6 Principal singers and an SATB Chorus. 

The main characters are:
Galatea (Soprano)
Acis (Tenor)
Polyphemus (Bass)

The minor principals are:
Damon (Soprano/Mezzo-soprano)
Recitative. Stay, shepherd, stay!
Aria. Shepherd, what art thou pursuing?
Aria. Would you gain the tender creature

Cloris (Soprano/Mezzo-soprano)
Aria. Consider, fond shepherd"

2nd in charge (Baritone)
Aria. Cease to beauty to be suing

The Chorus of 20 pax maximum is in 5 parts SATTB. 6 chorus members will be invited to cover the principals.

Please note: As the performance is with period instruments the performance will be at Baroque pitch (A415).

AUDITION

Please use the website registration booking system below to guarantee your audition time.

SUNDAY 23 Jun, 10am-4pm

Hamilton Town Hall, 36-42 Racecourse Rd, Hamilton

Please prepare:

• Two contrasting arias with a strong preference for Baroque pieces. It does not have to be a work from Acis and Galatea.

• Your CV and Headshot, one hard copy only.

• A hard copy of your music prepared for the accompanist (no extra copies required).

THE OPERA – ACIS AND GALATEA 

18th Century London audiences couldn’t get enough of Handel’s pastoral opera, Acis and Galatea. First performed in 1718, by the middle of the century it had been staged no less than seventy times. Based on Ovid’s Metamorphosis, Acis and Galatea is a love triangle involving the nymph Galatea, the shepherd Acis, and the giant Polyphemus who threatens their happiness. The story unfolds through music that encompasses the joyful and the melancholic.

Lasting approx. 1.5 hours, the work is divided into two Acts but can be performed with no interval.  The action occurs in real time (i.e. 1.5 hours of these characters’ lives).

Act 1 sets the idyllic, nature-loving life of nymphs and shepherds and the playful, joyful love of Galatea and Acis. 

In Act 2 the mood changes with the entrance of the giant Polyphemus who wants Galatea for himself. Acis leaps to Galatea’s defence but the giant is stronger, killing Acis with a rock. As Galatea mourns the loss of Acis, she uses her divine power to make him immortal, transforming him into a stream.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Conductor                             Andrew Robinson

Orchestra                              Brisbane Baroque

Baroque Specialist                Peter Roennfeldt

Chorus Master                   Kylie Los

Director/Stage Manager        Leslie Martin

PARTICIPANTS’ FEES (per person)

Galatea, Acis, Polyphemus: $300

Damon, Cloris, 2nd in Charge: $150

Chorus and Covers: $100

Whilst Springboard Opera has made every endeavour to make taking part in Acis and Galatea affordable, we understand that it can still be out of reach for some. If you require assistance to take part please get in touch via info@springboardopera.com.au.