Which opera company offers high fees, warm relationships with the general director and staff, zinc and vitamin C lozenges at rehearsals, and the beach…?
The answer—San Diego Opera, cited by many performers as one of the most singer-friendly houses in the world. We interviewed several singers and asked them to be candid, as we would not include names.
Staff. “Caring” is the way most singers described the staff at SDO. General director Ian Campbell “…is a very warm and brilliant man.” “He was/is a singer himself and involves his wife and two boys in every way possible, bringing a welcome sense of balance to rehearsals. The cast was invited to dinner in his home, and he encouraged singers to keep in touch.” “Artistic administrator Marianne Flettner keeps things incredibly organized, including reservations, hooking up phones, and handling problems as they arise.” “The publicity staff, Todd Schultz and Stephanie Thompson, make sure that the opera is on TV, radio, billboards, buses and everywhere you turn. Cameramen are often filming at rehearsals, as is Martha Hart, a photographer who recently released The Art of Making Opera.” “The staff is totally committed to promoting opera, and they really seem to like singers.…”
Fees. “It’s so wonderful to feel that you are valued enough to make a decent living.” Housing is usually not paid, but airfare is. Several singers shared their fee information with us, and it was clear that fees varied widely and inexplicably, but were invariably excellent.
Transportation. The company will pick you up from the airport if you choose not to rent a car. Rental car information is provided ahead of time, and the company has worked out discounts with some rental agencies. If you rent a car, you’ll have to pay for parking at the theater, which is about $10 per night; a monthly pass is also available. The airport is very close to the theater, so taxis and buses are another option. San Diego also has a wonderful public transit system, and for $50 you can have a month of unlimited rides on the trolley and buses. If you wait until the 15th of the month, the pass is only $25. Unlimited daily passes are $5, or $12 for four days.
Housing. More evidence of a caring staff, housing options sent to artists ahead of time included floor plans, brochures and costs—all reservations are taken care of. You can choose to stay in a resort-type area, or save money and stay close to the theater. SDO has one beach house, which goes fast, but most singers stay at the Coronado (security-conscious condo units right on the beach, which include a gym, spa, tennis, and swimming pools). The cost was under $3,000 for the stay (one month), but a car was also necessary. One singer complained that realtors called frequently, waking them up on performance days asking to “show the condo.” The least expensive housing is The J Street Inn—bare-bones living with small fridge, microwave, and basic cable for $140 per week, with an extra $20 per week for parking privileges. However, no car is needed if you are working downtown—the inn is across the street from the trolley, which drops you off right at the theater. “J Street Inn was great, but they would not let me bring my dog. There is a huge grocery store one block away, and for $50, I had full use of a terrific gym, including personal training called ‘Bodyworks.’”
Rehearsals. Not only do the publicity people attend many rehearsals, there are at least three stage managers and two stagehands, even during early rehearsals. “I never had to memorize a single entrance!”“I appreciated the clear rehearsal schedule, with plenty of advance notice so I could plan my time.” “The director encouraged synergy, and I felt like an artist, not a chess piece.”
Performances. “Two of the dressing rooms are the diva type, with carpeting, bathroom and piano. The other two on the main floor were chorus style: a narrow linoleum hallway with a clothes rod on one side and a long dressing table on the other—difficult to share when you both have a bustle!” “I was sharing a dressing room, and when I got a cold, the stage manager, Mary Yankee Peters, gave up her office until I was well so I wouldn’t pass on the cold. She also gave me some special herbal teas. The make-up crew kept my brushes and makeup separate to avoid passing on the germs. I’ve been in other houses where they say they are careful, but aren’t, and the cold goes through the whole cast.”
“My favorite performance was the dress rehearsal full of school kids. At intermission, all the backstage crew came out onstage to show the kids how many people it took to put on this production. It created a warm feeling, and while walking to my car after the show, I heard several audience members commenting on how ‘cool’ that was!”
Facilities. Rehearsals are held in a conference room, in the basement of the theater, or onstage. There are few places to practice unless you can talk the stagehands into opening a dressing room for you.
Auditions. “A few people from out of town auditioned during breaks in our rehearsals either in the rehearsal room or onstage, depending on where we were.” [Professional chorus auditions will be held over the summer. See Career Opportunities. Watch for apprentice audition notices around December for SDO’s spring auditions. For leading roles, singers are usually auditioned through managers or heard in live performances.]
