An engrossing behind-the-scenes quasi-documentary as 10 hopefuls vie for a spot on the Met's roster.An engrossing behind-the-scenes quasi-documentary as 10 hopefuls vie for a spot on the Met's roster.An engrossing behind-the-scenes quasi-documentary as 10 hopefuls vie for a spot on the Met's roster.
Photos
Steven Hartley
- Self - Semi-Finalists
- (as Stephen Hartley)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Metropolitan Opera HD Live: Verdi: Ernani (2012)
- SoundtracksUna furtiva lagrima
from opera "L'elisir d'amore"
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani
Performed by Juan Diego Flórez, Riccardo Frizza and Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
Courtesy of Deca Music group Limited
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
Featured review
A terrific film about a tough, tough competition
"The Audition"(2008) was directed Susan Frömke. The movie is a documentary about the weeks preceding the Metropolitan Opera's 2007 National Council Auditions. The film is tension-arousing, because winning the competition is an important step towards an opera career. This competition is prestigious, but it is incredibly intense.
About 1,800 singers enter the competition, and only six are winners. The problem for the judges--and for us watching the movie--is that the 12 finalists are all excellent, experienced singers. They're all great, but only half of them will be winners.
The movie is interesting because the participants are kept busy in the week leading up to the competition. They pick their costumes, have breathing and acting lessons, work with the conductor (Marco Armiliato), and try to establish some sort of group cohesiveness, despite the fact that they are competitors.
As far as I could tell, nothing was staged for the movie--what we see is what was actually taking place. Of course, some of the singers were interviewed in front of the camera, and that was not a natural part of the process. Even so, this was a real documentary. We watched the competition unfold just as it was happening. This is reality--not reality TV.
"The Audition" is a wonderful film and definitely worth seeking out and seeing. We watched it on DVD, and it worked very well. If you like opera, this film is a must. If you're not an opera fan, you will still understand and enjoy the movie. If you hate opera, probably better to pick another film.
About 1,800 singers enter the competition, and only six are winners. The problem for the judges--and for us watching the movie--is that the 12 finalists are all excellent, experienced singers. They're all great, but only half of them will be winners.
The movie is interesting because the participants are kept busy in the week leading up to the competition. They pick their costumes, have breathing and acting lessons, work with the conductor (Marco Armiliato), and try to establish some sort of group cohesiveness, despite the fact that they are competitors.
As far as I could tell, nothing was staged for the movie--what we see is what was actually taking place. Of course, some of the singers were interviewed in front of the camera, and that was not a natural part of the process. Even so, this was a real documentary. We watched the competition unfold just as it was happening. This is reality--not reality TV.
"The Audition" is a wonderful film and definitely worth seeking out and seeing. We watched it on DVD, and it worked very well. If you like opera, this film is a must. If you're not an opera fan, you will still understand and enjoy the movie. If you hate opera, probably better to pick another film.
helpful•20
- Red-125
- Feb 18, 2012
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