Start Here!
So…you want to #MakeTheDive & begin auditioning as a professional opera singer in Germany?
Where do you start?
Before exploring the vast amount of information on this website, we strongly suggest that you take the time to read through this entire page and make sure you are ready to begin a professional career.
The following 8 questions will help you assess if you are ready to #MakeTheDive into Germany…
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Do you have sufficient training & performance experience?
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German casting directors want to see that you have previous performance experience. The demand for performers in Germany is high. Therefore, they want to know that you are ready, comfortable & confident to perform on stage NOW.
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You need sufficient vocal, stylistic, movement and linguistic training (through university, young artist or studio programs) to be considered ready at the professional level.
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You’ll need a good RESUME (more on that in future posts…) but they will be most interested in your performance experience.
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Providing links to video clips which show how you move onstage helps to have in your dossier when seeking auditions.
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Are you confident that your audition repertoire is only from roles you would be able to perform onstage today?
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Singers often audition a Fach too heavy…don’t make that mistake!
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Theaters and agents want to know what you can sing RIGHT NOW.
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Be realistic: Offer repertoire that you know you can confidently sing and act today.
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At least one audition aria must be in German. Prepare it with someone who lives and works in Germany.
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Know thy CURRENT self: The Germans aren’t interested in repertoire that shows potential for a role you could sing in 5 years. Offer arias from roles that you could sing in their entirety today!
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Do you have a strong vocal technique as well as vocal & physical stamina?
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Your vocal technique will be tested if you are hired as a singer in Germany, such as having to sing a 10am rehearsal & a performance in the same 24 hour period. Being a working opera singer in Germany is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you can take care of yourself vocally and are confident in your vocal technique.
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Deutsche Regie (or German staging/direction) is often physically demanding. Are you in good vocal, physical & cardiovascular shape to be able to sing and perform opera with physically demanding staging?
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You need to know what your voice is capable of repertoire-wise. If you cannot sing & perform an entire role, DO NOT offer an aria from that role/opera it in your auditions.
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Do you know your strengths (and weaknesses) as a performing artist?
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If you have strong acting, movement or linguistic skills, show them off with the repertoire you present.
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If your stylistic strengths lie in certain repertoire, offer the repertoire that shows your strengths.
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Because the output of opera in Germany is so high…German casting directors have seen a lot of performances, non-standard repertoire and a lot of singers in auditions and performances. Therefore in an audition, you need to show casting directors what makes you unique as an artist by presenting repertoire that shows your strengths.
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Knowing your weaknesses is just as important as knowing your strengths as a performer…no one can do it all. Therefore, do not offer repertoire or roles that expose those weaknesses. Everyone has weaknesses as a performer…no one can do it all. Therefore, do not offer repertoire or roles that expose
those weaknesses
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Are you at least conversational in German or understand a good amount of the language?
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You need to at least have baseline skills in conversational/intermediate German if you are considering auditioning for any of the smaller, mid-level or upper mid-level houses in Germany…as their rehearsals and events will be conducted in the German language.
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You need to be able to introduce yourself in an audition in German and carry out a simple conversation on the stage during an audition.
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It doesn’t have to be perfect but you must be able to speak, understand and be understood.
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Go to a language school, go to bars or cafes…spend time talking with German speakers before beginning an audition tour.
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We suggest taking a B1 level German course before beginning your audition tour.
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Can you afford the investment of multiple audition tours and a subsequent move to Germany?
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Audition tours are expensive and you’ll probably have to go at least twice (if not more) to get started in Germany. You’ll need to be able to afford to stay several months in Germany while auditioning.
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From train tickets, to hotels & AirBnB’s…traveling for auditions gets expensive. It is an investment, make sure you can afford it.
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You need to know how to live on a budget as well as have funds for unexpected audition notices and travel. Auditions often come up last minute, therefore travel can be more than expected for what you budgeted for.
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Can you bear it?
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Can you be a stranger in a strange land?
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Are you ready to pull up roots and move to Germany?
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It often takes singers multiple trips & audition tours to get started Germany…do you have the patience & the persistence for that?
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You will be alone often, in a foreign city away from your family and friends…can you handle that?
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Can you handle rejection? No matter the skill level of the singer, everyone will face a lot of rejection. Make sure you can handle it.
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Are you confident in making decisions (vocally, financially, artistically, logistically) on your own?
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Are you ready to move to Germany full-time?
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Most agents aren’t interested in working with a singer, unless they are fully committed to living in Germany FULL-TIME.
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Being available for auditions & jump-in’s is a basic need for getting a career started in Germany. Make sure that’s something you can do & that you know how to make the best use of your free-time (finding alternate income, taking language courses, enjoying life off the stage).
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Auditions and vacancies come at random times and you have to be available or agents and casting directors won’t consider you to be serious about working in Germany.
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