For more than 70 years, New York's Metropolitan Opera has jump-started the careers of countless young singers.
Through its series of auditions held throughout the country each year, hundreds of aspiring vocalists have the opportunity to participate and perhaps be among the lucky few who reach operatic stardom.
The list of past finalists reads like a who's who of opera: Samuel Ramey; Frederica von Stade; Renee Fleming; Denyce Graves; Deborah Voigt; Thomas Hampson; and Utah's own Jennifer Welch-Babidge are among those whose careers got a huge boost through the Metropolitan Opera auditions.
This coming weekend, the Utah District auditions will be held in Libby Gardner Concert Hall. The preliminary round will be held Jan. 8, and the finals round on Jan. 9. Both are free and open to the public.
"This is the 'American Idol' of opera," said Gunter Radinger, one of the three co-directors of the Utah District auditions.
When the Deseret News spoke with him, Radinger said they were still receiving applications and didn't know how many would participate this coming weekend.
"The number is usually very flexible. We've been averaging around 40 to 50 singers each year, and I think we can expect around that many again this year."
Of those, perhaps a dozen will be selected for the final round on Saturday. And anywhere from two to four finalists will be chosen to go on to the regional auditions in Denver this spring. "Again, there is no set number who will go on to regionals," Radinger said. "The final number comes down to how much prize money we have and to the judges' decision."
There will be three judges: renowned Wagnerian tenor Ben Heppner; Diane Zola, artistic administrator for Houston Grand Opera; and Michael W. Egel, artist administrator and director of education for Des Moines Opera.
"We are so fortunate to have Ben come here," Radinger said. "He doesn't judge a lot of these auditions." Heppner was a Metropolitan Opera national auditions winner in 1988 and is now the leading Wagnerian tenor of his generation.
In the past, the district auditions were limited to participants living in the area. A few years ago, the Metropolitan Opera changed its rules, and now the district-level auditions don't have any geographical restrictions.
"That's good," Radinger said, "because it makes it easier for people to take part. And we're expecting them from everywhere in the country."
Since 2005, Radinger has been codirecting the district auditions with Utah Symphony|Utah Opera's Julie McBeth and Utah Opera's Carol Anderson (who will also accompany the singers). "It's a very rewarding job and very gratifying," he said.
Both rounds of the auditions are open to the public, and Radinger encourages everyone who loves opera to attend. "You're going to hear some wonderful singers and some fabulous music. In the preliminary round, each singer will sing two arias. In the Saturday round, each finalist will perform a longer program."
e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com
If you go...
What: Metropolitan Opera District Auditions
Where: Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah
When: Jan. 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (preliminary round); Jan. 9, 3 p.m. (finals round)
How much: Free (donations accepted)