Singers and actors in the Bow Valley take note! The Banff Centre will be holding auditions for the 2003 Banff Arts Festival production of the new, critically acclaimed Canadian opera, Filumena. So warm up those voices, dig out your opera CD’s, and begin singing along to practice your audition pieces!

Filumena is based on some of the most colourful events in Alberta history as it follows the tragic true story of Florence Losandro, a young Italian immigrant who gets caught up in a life of high crime, secret love, and the struggle for personal freedom.

With music by John Estacio and a libretto by John Murrell, O.C., A.O.E., Filumena premiered to Calgary Opera audiences in early February, and received thundering applause and standing ovations.

The chorus for Filumena calls for all voice types (Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, and Baritones), and the supernumaries (non-singing roles) needed are children between the ages of 6 and 13, as well as able-bodied adult men and women. This exciting chance to be part of a large-scale opera production will require those chosen to be available for evening and weekend rehearsals between July 14-August 10, 2003.

The chorus auditions and supernumerary interviews will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the Bentley Chamber Music Room in the Music & Sound building of The Banff Centre. Singers should be prepared to perform two contrasting pieces from the operatic or music theatre repertoire, as well as be prepared to sight read a short piece. Please bring a resume and provide your own accompanist, if possible.

To book an audition or an interview, please contact Casey Prescott at 762-6359.