The Prince George Symphony Orchestra is looking for people with a song in their hearts and is holding vocal auditions to find them Feb. 3 and 4.
With collaboration from le Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George, the symphony will present a historic opera in the fall. It will be filled with traditional song and dance set in the Canadian Colonies in the late 1700s where musical theatre and light opera were popular pastimes.
The first Canadian opera was Colas et Colinette by Joseph Quesnel, whose colourful past includes being arrested off Newfoundland while transporting weapons to the Americans for their rebellion against the British. He was given safe conduct to Montreal and settled there.
Quesnel tried to bring the niceties of Europe to Montreal and started a theatre and opera series for which he wrote some of the repertoire. His style is reminiscent of Mozart and filled with early Canadian influences of nature and the social foibles and complexities of the New World.
The open auditions for solo roles and chorus will be held Feb. 3 and 4 at St. Michael's Church, 1505 Fifth Avenue. The historic opera will be presented Sept. 22 and 23, with rehearsals during August and September.
The audition is calling for a soprano between 18 and 30 years old, a tenor or baritone between 18 and 35 years old, a tenor or baritone between 25 and 60, a tenor or baritone between 35 and 70, a male actor good with French, age not important.
For the chorus the symphony is seeking two to four children between the ages of eight and 12, four to eight youths 13 to 18 years old and 10 to 12 adults over 19.
Everyone auditioning should bring a prepared piece and be ready to sing in French and do some easy dance steps.
Call the symphony at 250-562-0800 for an audition time set for Friday, Feb. 3 evening or Saturday, Feb. 4 afternoon and evening.
