Opera Australia calls for dogs to audition for role in La Traviata
Opera Australia’s latest round of auditions has gone to the dogs – literally, with the company calling for pooches to put their best paw forward for a chance to appear in the upcoming performance of La Traviata. VIDEO: HOW TO AUDITION
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There’s an old saying about grand opera and temperamental singers going hand-in-hand.
So you can’t blame Opera Australia for wanting some new stars with impeccable manners, patience and a lack of excitability.
The only thing is, they have to be dogs.
Opera Australia today invites Sydney owners to audition their pooches for a walk-on role in La Traviata, this year’s Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour.
All the action takes place on a raked stage above the waters of Farm Cove, with the audience just metres away on dry land.
A different dog is needed to appear in the boisterous Act 1 “drinking scene” in every performance between March 27 and April 26.
Marie Duplessis, the real-life character who inspired La Traviata, was once gifted a small black spaniel by an admirer, so the opera is looking for a small dog.
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Each doggie star will be watched by nearly 3000 ticketholders each night, and will be on stage for some of the show’s best arias (songs).
As the loving owner of two dogs, Danita Weatherstone is a big fan of OA’s initiative.
She’s also singing the role of Annina, loyal maid to the lead character Violetta. Excitingly, La Traviata is Weatherstone’s first main stage performance. (Her husband Mat Waugh is also debuting in the chorus.)
Weatherstone was in the chorus several years ago when dogs were on stage for the Handa Opera production of La Boheme.
“They were a real crowd-puller,” Weatherstone said.
“People were coming to support their dog. Some of the crew wore made-up T-shirts and they were voting for their favourite dog. It was very cute.”
Weatherstone doubts her own dogs would suitable opera performers.
“Rosie (a border collie cross) is not good with noises,” she said.
As for the young kelpie, Maggie, she’d be “rounding people up”, Waugh said.
“She’d end up stealing the show, probably not in the right way,” he said.
Think your dog has got what it takes for opera? Check out the audition details at http://opera.org.au/dogs
Originally published as Opera Australia calls for dogs to audition for role in La Traviata