Back in May, when Opera Australia gave us the excellent news that it was opening up the application process for its Young Artist program, one of the most exciting parts of that press release for me was this sentence: "The final audition will take place in front of an audience in the Opera Theatre of the Sydney Opera House at 7.30pm on July 19, 2009."
Well, the 19th is this Sunday and I haven't heard one single thing more about this concert, not in my capacity as a ticket buyer, newsletter subscriber or reviewer. There's no mention of it on the company website, nor any concert listing at the Opera House's website. Evidently it is happening though. One imagines by invitation only, and it's been suggested to me that this invitation may have gone out exclusively to subscribers.
Such is life. There's nothing I love more than a good singing competition but it appears I'm just plain out of luck in this case. Serves me right for forgetting every year to organise a youth subscription. (By the time I remember I'll no doubt be too old to qualify.) I shall just have to hang on till August — Eisteddfod time. In the meantime, though, if any of you out there are subscribers or have otherwise qualified to attend this concert, I'd love a report from Sunday's concert. And best of luck to all the finalists, whoever they may be.
Update: I managed to get a ticket. I promise a full report.
Sarah, I have several subscriptions & I didn't receive an invite. I don't know how they were issued. FYI the Eisteddfod has already started & heats have been on in St Peter's Church North Sydney for the last 2 weeks. The finals of Operatic Voice is on next saturday evening. Details of finalists on Eisteddfod website and there are some great young singers there.
Posted by: travelling mezzo | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 02:29 PM
It's funny. If you and I don't qualify for this sort of thing, who does? I would have thought we'd make ideal audience members.
I realise the Eisteddfod has started, but the things I'm planning to attend aren't till August, at least according to the schedule I downloaded from the site a while ago. I've put them on my calendar and everything, so may actually manage to go this time instead of just meaning to and then forgetting!
Posted by: Sarah | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 03:18 PM
I think they sent out invites at random to a whole bunch of subscribers - no doubt sending an invite to all subs would have meant they would wind up over booked. I got an invite, but can't attend so I didn't book... shame!
Posted by: Alex | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 04:02 PM
That seems like the most likely scenario. I can't help thinking there might have been a better way.
Posted by: Sarah | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 04:54 PM
I'm sure that next year it'll done a little differently now that this has proven such a popular event. I also tried to get a ticket today and couldn't!
Posted by: Andrew | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Good one Sarah, so did I. Do we know which singers are in the running or how many rounds there were?
Posted by: travelling mezzo | Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 12:52 PM
No idea - all I know is what was in that first press release. Will be very interesting to show up on Sunday and find out who's singing!
Posted by: Sarah | Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 01:30 PM