Auditioning for the Paris Opera

[|ADMIN KRISTINE|]

So, because I'm a total music nerd (and a pre-professional opera singer), I came across this information, and thought that it could be rather handy information for people making characters. It's the audition information for The Opéra National de Paris (which in the time period of the roleplay, consisted only of the Opéra Garnier). I'll put information, including audition requirements and salaries and such (though keep in mind, these are the modern salaries) for each of the major sections of the opera company.

I will also put up general information and facts about the Opera House and its functions here, and other things of similar nature that might assist you in teh creation of, and/or the playing of, characters in such circumstances.

[|ADMIN KRISTINE|]

THE CHORUS

While the opera company does hold auditions every single year, there are not always open positions for every voice part every year. For instance, this past year, (January 2013) there were a total of 5 open chorus positions: 1 Bass II, 1 Tenor I, 2 Alto II, and 1 Baritone. There is an application form that must be filled out and submitted before being able to attend the audition. There are a few things that are.. slightly different now than they were then. Several of the female chorus members (and leads, for that member), would often have side relations with some of the more wealthy patrons and subscribers. It's briefly mentioned in the novel, when Philippe was writing to Christine, ashing "favors for his brother" to which she writes him back not to ask of any more such "favours" again.

Keeping all of this in mind, here are the different audition requirements for the company (this is as listed from this previous year).

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Candidates must be able to sing four songs in their original language
(A French operatic aria, two arias chosen by the candidate in two
languages ​​other than French, one can be a song or
a melody and a conventional air - made before the nineteenth
century), two extracts imposed choirs and vocalise Rossini(Piano and forte). A sight reading and an interview with the jury are also part of the events. Opera provides a guide but
Applicants should plan to bring their extracts partitions.Les choirs are imposed:
- Giuseppe Verdi - Otello
: Act I - Fuoco di gioia
        pages 41-59
- Charles GOUNOD - Faust: Act II - No. 3, Fete
pages 33-50

Gross monthly salary of early career (value at 1 January 2013)
Single category: 3,078.45 €
Pay an average of thirteen months (salary + bonus at year end)
Can retire at age 57

[|ADMIN KRISTINE|]

THE CORPS DE BALLET

The information for this is a little more spotty. Unfortunately there is no set salary listed for dancers in the corps de ballet, so I would assume it varies highly contract by contract. In the period though, there were several things about the corps de ballet that are far different from how things are today. For instance, all of the dancers were expected to live in the ballet dormitories up in the upper levels of the opera house (which is what earned them the rather unfortunate nickname of "the rats"). Another not so savvy fact is that a great many of them had side jobs as, for lack of a better word, prostitutes (which is actually briefly referred to in Leroux's novel as well in terms of the relationship between La Sorelli and Comte Philippe).

There is a pre-application before being able to audition, but the audition is opened to both women and men aged from 16 to 26 years old.