Hello, from Opera at Bearwood. Welcome to our website with information for audiences, friends and members. We bring good quality opera to the local community and hope to see you at one of our productions very soon.
THE HUNTSMAN'S BRIDE (DER FREISCHUTZ by Carl Maria von Weber)
Our summer production for 2019 will be performed at the Reddam House Theatre, Bearwood during the latter part of July 2018 (dates to be confirmed). The opera will be fully staged and accompanied by a small orchestra performed in English (Schirmer score but with revised spoken dialogue)
Auditions will be held on Sunday 09 December afternoon between 2:00 and 5:00 pm, at the Frogmore Day Care Centre, Potley Hill Road, Yateley GU46 6AG. We are not going to organise by bookable slots as we may wish to do some “mixing and matching” with the spoken dialogue.
The auditions are open to all but we stress that OAB is a purely amateur society and no fees or expenses are payable.
There will be a modest audition fee to pay of £10.00 which is to cover hall hire, repetiteur and free tea and biscuits.
We will be starting full rehearsals immediately after our New Year Concert in January 2019 at our regular venue St James' Church Hall, Church Lane, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 4LU. The venue is some way from the nearest public transport. We may be able to organise pickups from Wokingham or Bracknell stations, but it is obviously preferable for people to have their own transport. Rehearsals generally run from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. We normally run a small number of Sunday rehearsals during the last month prior to a show, plus ad hoc principals’ rehearsals as necessary. During Lent, between Tuesday 12 March and Easter music rehearsals will be held at an alternative venue probably at the Bracknell Open Learning Centre. After Easter, we return to Finchampstead for floor rehearsals.
The audition pieces are as follows:
Ottokar Tenor Character tenor. Anything.
Prince Ottakar appears in the last Act only. He is the governor of the local county (if that is the correct terminology). Middle-aged, pompous and very patronizing.
Cuno Bass Anything
Head forest ranger, middle-aged, approaching retirement. Father of Agathe. He sees Max as his obvious successor but is worried that Max has lost his shooting mojo.
Caspar Bass Aria No 5 Schirmer Page 52 to 57
Total villain. Thirties? He has already sold his soul for magic bullets and hopes to delay being dragged down to hell by providing another victim.
Max Tenor Aria Schirmer Page 40 to 47
Our hero, late twenties. A skilled forest ranger, but for some reason (possibly forthcoming nuptials) his skill at shooting has deserted him, much the amusement of the villagers
Hermit Bass Schirmer Page 160 from 160/2/4 to 161/2/4
Appears in the last Act to try and reconcile things and provide a happy ending. I feel that he is middle-aged (at least) very solemn and holy. A bit of a Sarastro figure.
Killian Baritone Anything, plus Schirmer Page 14
A farmer thirties to forties, bluff jolly sort of bloke. Beats Max in the opening shooting contest and rags him mercilessly. But we don’t see much of him after that he is then just chorus.
Agathe Soprano Aria No 8 Schirmer Page 72 from 72/4/4 Adagio to 79
Our heroine, daughter of Cuno, engaged to Max. Worried about Max and the forthcoming marriage. Early to mid-twenties but flexible.
Annchen Soprano Song No 13 Schirmer Page 118 to 120/3/4
Agathe’s chum. Soubrette, about same age as Agathe, but could be older.
Bridesmaids (2) Sop / Alt No 14 Schirmer Page 126 2 verses and chorus bit
Bridesmaids are bridesmaids ….
Samiel Spoken
The black hunter, the supernatural being who dwells in the forest and can enchant bullets. Possibly the devil. In some productions he is seen, but he will probably be a disembodied and amplified voice.
We apologise for not giving a lot of notice for the auditions. If you don't have time to work on the audition pieces, please bring something you feel is appropriate.
The buttons will take you to pdf's of the relevant audition piece
Expressions of interest please to:
09 November 2018
We look forward to welcoming you!
