BCO Summer Opera Festival

The Music of the Russian Soul

An evening of Russian romances and arias by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, M. Musorgsky, A. Borodin, S. Profkofiev's, Glinka and others performed by the participants of the Summer festival. Accompanied on the piano by Katerina Souvorova. Randolph Rd Theater, 4010 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, MD

Saturday, June 13, 7:30pm

CSA United Methodist Church, 5910 Goldsboro Rd, Bethesda, MD

P. Tchaikovsky Iolanta

Fully staged, in costume, sung in Russian with English supertitles, accompanied by chamber orchestra.

Friday, June 26, 7:30pm

Saturday, June 27, 7:30pm

Sunday, June 28, 3:00pm

Randolph rd. theatre, 4010 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, MD

S. Sondheim Into the Woods

Youth version, fully staged, in costume, performed in English.

Saturday, July 18, 7.30pm

Sunday, July 19, 3:pm

Theatre of Concord-Saint Andrews United Methodist Church (5910 Goldsboro Rd. Bethesda, MD)

INFORMATION

This year Bel Cantanti Opera is holding its eighth highly successful annual summer opera program for young singers.
It is the second year, when we included a musical in the summer program. We will be working not only with the young professional singers, but also with the children (elementary through high school)

The festival will start on June 1 and run till June 28 with the performances of Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta,and from June 16 till July 18 for Sondheim's Into the Woods.

The AUDITIONS for both productions will be held at the Concord - St. Andrews United Methodist Church on Saturdays, March 7 and 14 (11-9pm). Contact auditions@belcantanti.com

For the auditions for Iolanta singers are required to sing an aria in Russian and an aria of their choice.

For the auditions for Into the Woods singers should prepare one or two English pieces and a monologue ( memorized) - 1 minute..

To apply to auditions the applicants need to send via email the following materials to auditions@belcantanti.com.

MATERIALS:

1. Application - Children and Adults (download and send to auditions@belcantanti.com).

2. Application Fee Children and Adults $36.50 (PayPal)

3. Headshot ( Adults) For the children we would need a picture of any kind, not a headshot.

4. Current Resume (email and bring a hard copy for auditions). Adults only.

5. Recent mp3 recording. Youtube or DVD if available. Adults only.

6. Short bio. Children and Adults

7. Costume measurements. Children and Adults (download and send to auditions@belcantanti.com).

Tchaikovsky's Iolanta is performed in Russian. Sondheim's Into the Woods is performed in English.

Tuition: $1000 (Tuition is Non-Refundable after April 1.)

Housing: Limited housing for out of town singers might be available.

Venues: Rehearsals will be held in the CSA United Methodist Church and Randolph Rd. Theatre.

Payments: Pay an audition fee online with your credit card through PayPal. You do not have to have a PayPal account and can use any major credit card.

Audition Fee is $36.50 ( $35 plus $1.50 PayPal fee).

Tuition is paid by check sent to Bel Cantanti Opera, 13007 Prairie View Pl. Germantown, MD, 20874.

Check has to be postmarked not later than March 20th, 2013.

SAMPLE DAY'S SCHEDULE (Adults-Iolanta)

11:00 am - Coachings sessions / music rehearsals / staging rehearsals

2:30pm - Short break, Lunch

3:00pm - Guest-Artist Event / Master Class / Performance seminar

5:00 pm - Short Break / Dinner.

6:00pm - Music Coachings / Staging rehearsals

10:00 pm - Participants released.

Each individual schedule will be different depending on participation.

The schedule for the children (Into the Woods) will be 12pm - 5pm
The activities will include daily music rehearsals, staging rehearsals, music coachings, acting, choreography.
The schedule will be determined according to the role and involvement in the program.

ROLES TO CAST

P. Tchaikovsky's TCHAIKOVSKY IOLANTA

Prince Vaudemont, Burgundian knight, lyric tenor,
Iolanta blind princess, soprano
King Renee, bass
Robert, Duke of Burgundy, baritone
Ibn - Khakia, a Moorish physician, baritone, bass baritone
Brighitta, girlfriend of Iolanta, light soprano
Laura, girlfriend of Iolanta, mezzo soprano
Marta, Iolanta's nurse, mezzo soprano
Bertrand, the gate keeper, bass
Almeric, armor-bearer to King René, tenor

CHORUS of GIRLS: friends and servants of Iolanta

S. SONDHEIM INTO THE WOODS

WHEN: June 15 - July 19, 2015
WHERE: Theatre of the Concord-St. Andrew's United Methodist Church
SHOWS: Theatre of the Concord- St. Andrews United Methodist Church
TUITION: $1000

ROLES:
CINDERELLA A young, earnest maiden who is constantly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
CINDERELLA'S MOTHER Deceased with her soul guarding and aiding her daughter from a tree.
CINDERELLA'S PRINCE Vain and gorgeous, he is a disloyal lover who is currently searching for the next new, exciting thing.
CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER The mean-spirited, demanding stepmother of Cinderella.
FLORINDA and LUCINDA Cinderella's stepsisters who are black of heart. They follow in their mother's footsteps of abusing Cinderella.
GIANT Voiceover. The Giant's wife is an angry and vengeful 'monster.' She is seeking restitution for her loss. Speaking Role
JACK The feckless Giant killer who is 'almost a man.' He is adventurous, naive, energetic, and bright-eyed.
JACK'S MOTHER Browbeating and weary, Jack's protective mother who is independent, bold, and strong-willed.
LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD A spoiled young girl who is strong-willed, quick-wited, fearless, yet youthful and naive.
MYSTERIOUS MAN A mischievous vagrant and nosy meddler. He is a good-natured protector and observer.
NARRATOR An intellectual and pleasant story-teller who helps to orchestrate the show and illustrate lessons to the audience.
RAPUNZEL A loopy-but-lovely maiden who is sheltered by the Witch and terribly lonely. She yearns to experience the world.
RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE Just as vain and gorgeous as his Prince brother, he is always chasing the newest, most exiting endeavor.
THE BAKER A harried and insecure baker who is simple and loving, yet protective of his family. He wants his wife to be happy and is willing to do anything to ensure her happiness but refuses to let others fight his battles.
THE BAKER'S WIFE Determined and bright woman who wishes to be a mother. She leads a simple, yet satisfying life and is very low-maintenance yet proactive in her endeavors.
THE WITCH Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous, obsessive protector of Rapunzel who is straightforward and aggressive.
WOLF Hungry and insatiable hunter who takes advantage of the weak by misleading and captivating his prey.