I think you'd agree with me on the > wisdom of auditioning for opera, competitions, or singing on > academic juries with arias in the original key or a > transposition commonly used in staged operas. > > Peggy > > -- > Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA > "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile" > mailto:peggyh@i... >
On a similar note, I was reading through the song lists for the UK ABRSM singing exams. For Grade 8 (top grade before diploma) you have a choice of four lists, and have to choose a song from each. The guideline states that each song can be transposed to a representative range for the voice, with the exception of opera or oratorio arias written for specific voices, and these should be performed in the original key. I looked to the tenor arias section, where one example was "Je Crois Entendre" from Pearl Fishers, which was stated as being in G minor. Well, I have performed this opera, and have that aria in more than one collection, and it's always in A minor. I wouldn't know where to find the music for it a tone down, and would probably transpose it myself. Do you think I would be penalised for doing it in Bizet's original key? (Only hypothetical since I have no real intention of taking this exam).
Best wishes Colin Reed, tenor Newark, UK
|
| |