Around the Music Festival

The final selection of the “National Council Audition” performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York took place on April 29th, and five singers passed. “National Council Audition” is held once a year, a program to discover and support young singers. More than 1,000 applicants are considered the most severe auditions in the United States. There are 11 finalists who participated, and in final selection they sing two different languages. Auditions produce big names such as Theresa Stratus, Jesse Norman, Deborah Voight, Renee Fleming, Thomas Humpson. A week from the Semi-final to the final in 2007 is drawn in the documentary film “The Audition ~ The Door to the Metropolitan Opera” commemorating the 125th anniversary of the opera house.

The five people who passed were as follows. Soprano Madison Leonard and Jessica Faselt, Mezzo-Soprano Hongni Wu and Ashley Dixon, Tenor Carlos Enrique Santelli. Leonard is a member of Washington Opera’s “Domingo-Carfitz-Young Artist and Program”. Wu is a Chinese who studied at the Manhattan music school after graduating from Xinghai Music Academy in Guangzhou, China. In this 2018/2019 season, Flora of Verdi “La traviata”, Bizet “Carmen” Mercedes will sing and debut at Royal Opera in London. . Faselt is a studio artist of Florida Grand Opera, a member of the young artists program of St. Louis Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera. Bertrand de Billy conducts the concert this year. The judges include Joyce DiDonato and Bryan Hymel.

Photo：Richard Termine / Metropolitan Opera