Week of December 16-23, 2010

This week on WSBE:
The Audition, directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage–and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The film covers the dramatic week leading up to the finals of the 2007 auditions, focusing on three very different tenor contestants: Michael Fabiano, a fiery 22-year-old grappling with his inner demons; Alek Shrader, a 25-year-old with movie-star looks who attempts to sing nine high Cs in the fiendishly difficult aria that made Pavarotti a star; and Ryan Smith, who at the age of 30, and with little formal training, is pursuing his dream of an operatic career.

The Audition is both a suspenseful competition narrative and a revealing backstage look at what it takes to make it as an opera singer.

Saturday, December 18 -- 8:00pm; Sunday,December 19 ---3:00am; Monday, December 20 -- 12:00am

WSBE 36.2 =WSBE Learn (RI Cox Cable 808) (RI Fios 478) (In Massachusetts, Comcast 294)

The Audition

A documentary about the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, in which contestants compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The competition is seen through the eyes of three hopefuls.

DURATION: 120 MIN

This coming Saturday (December 18) marks the beginning of New York's Metropolitan Opera's broadcast season, launching the present series at 12:30 p.m. with a LIVE broadcast of Verdi's "Don Carlo" with virtually the same cast that performed so wonderfully in last Saturday's HD-transmission. The broadcast can be heard on WRTI, as well as many other radio stations.

(www.wrti.org/)

Other recent opera performances that are being broadcast this Saturday include the following:

Handel's "Alcina" as performed by the Vienna State Opera on November 20, 2010. (http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/accueil/)

Rossini's "Semiramide" -- a performance by the Flemish Opera in Antwerp, from earlier this month. (http://radio.klara.be/radio/10_home.php)

And, last but certainly not least: Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" in a recent performance from Malmo (Sweden). (http://sverigesradio.se/p2/)

Please check www.operacast.com on Saturday morning for exact times.

Happy Listening!

DAVE