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Singers going to audition in Germany in the spring need to be aware that the time around Easter is very slow because it is the second most important holiday period, lasting anywhere from two to three weeks, depending where people live, and many casting directors, Intendants (General Directors) and GMD’s (General Music Directors) may not …

Spring Auditions 2024: Watch Out for the Easter Bunny & Spring Vacations! Read More »

Seeing Rosenkavalier at the Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden this December was a festive night at the opera, despite (or maybe because of) two jump-ins for major roles. One of them came all the way from Geneva that very morning since both the main cast and the secondary cast of the role of Baron Ochs …

Audience Appreciation for a Last Minute “Einspringen” in Der Rosenkavalier at Berlin Staatsoper Read More »

That’s Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year  to you! Rutsch means ‘slide’ so it’s really: have a good slide into the New Year. It’s winter after all and ice can make things slippery! Germans are more friendly around Christmas time and there are many traditions, not to mention much entertainment and merriment to be …

Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch! Read More »

If you are fortunate enough to negotiate a contract with a theater, be aware of the obligations as well as the protections this contract gives you. It is the standard contract, called an NV Solo, and has evolved over decades of conflict and compromise. The first thing to know is: Don’t be afraid to ask …

Contracts: Understanding Terminology Read More »

Audition slots remain tight: I’ve just heard from a ZAV agent that there are still many singers from Ukraine and Russia and even a backlog of Musikhochschule graduates from the Covid era who are asking for auditions. This means first and foremost that your videos and online materials have to be really good and high …

Audition Slots Still Tight Read More »

When I first came to Germany in the 1980’s you couldn’t take a shower after 10 PM because the noise of the water pipes would disturb your neighbors. They also had working toilets on each landing of the stairwell and many folks still remembered having to go outside. That was the tail end of an …

Ruhenzeit: Knowing When NOT To Sing Read More »

Our founder Larry Bakst sits down with mezzo-soprano Emily Lorini to discuss her success in making a living as a full-time opera singer in Germany. Her inspiring story, from starting in the chorus to starring as the title role of Carmen at Landestheater Coburg, culminates in over 10 years of experience living and working in …

Success Story Featuring Emily Lorini Read More »

Warming up and staying that way is especially critical for auditions. Nobody seems to teach it but it will be required of you, depending on the audition conditions. First, you need to know a few things about German noise regulations and practices as well as finding places where you can sing without unduly disturbing others. …

Warming Up and Staying That Way Read More »

All theaters are not the same and it’s especially important to understand this for Jump-Ins. If you’ve sung Violetta or Pamina in small regional theaters a Staatsoper is highly unlikely to hire you for a jump in, and you’ll probably mark yourself as unprofessional if you suggest it. For example if you’ve sung at Bielefeld, …

All Theaters Are Not the Same-more on Einspringen Read More »

My agent friend and others point out that it will probably take at least two trips to Germany to find a job. The first just to start to learn how the system works, from, including where and when to practice and how auditions work, to what it’s like to live there-where to shop and the …

Nochmal! Two Trips Read More »