Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The Metropolitan Opera is auditioning snakes for a role in an upcoming production of “Così fan tutte.” Zoe Ziegfeld, a carnival performer, is selecting the reptiles for the production, which is set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival. A boa constrictor named Princess was chosen for the lead role, with Nala as an understudy. Ziegfeld evaluates the snakes’ comfort and demeanor during the process. Nancy Novograd, an animal handler, provided the snakes for the audition. The production will feature live animals as part of the performance.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Ziegfeld evaluates snakes like talent.
Princess wins, Nala waits.
Animals must perform, like humans.
Fortune tells a story, not a forecast.
Author: Evan Null
Metropolitan Opera Auditions Snakes for Mozart Production
The Metropolitan Opera is holding auditions for snakes to play a role in an upcoming production of “Così fan tutte.” The production, set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival, will feature live animals as part of the performance. Zoe Ziegfeld, a carnival performer, is responsible for selecting the reptiles for the role. The snakes must be comfortable with people and demonstrate the right demeanor during the audition process.
Zoe Ziegfeld’s Role as Snake Handler
Ziegfeld, who has performed as a snake charmer on Coney Island, is now taking on the role of snake handler in the Met’s production. The audition process involves letting the snakes slither and wrap around Ziegfeld, who then evaluates their behavior. Ziegfeld said she needs to know that the animals are comfortable with people and the performance setup. This is the third time Ziegfeld has played the role of the snake charmer in the Met’s adaptation of the Mozart opera.
Princess Wins the Lead Role
A boa constrictor named Princess was chosen for the lead role in the production. She is a larger snake with a better visual presence on stage. Ziegfeld said the trial is not about Princess, but about her own strength. A slightly smaller brown boa constrictor named Nala will serve as Princess’s understudy. The selection process involved evaluating the snakes’ size, color, and compatibility with Ziegfeld.
Setting the Opera in a 1950s Coney Island Carnival
The Met’s adaptation of “Così fan tutte” is set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival. The plot of the original Mozart opera remains largely the same, with two Italian soldiers testing their lovers’ fidelity by pretending to go to war. The setting includes vibrant scenery and sideshow performers. Ziegfeld said the experience of entertaining at the Met is similar to that of Coney Island, where people are in awe or terrified by the performance.
Animals as Key Characters in Some Met Operas
The use of live animals in Met productions is not new. Nancy Novograd, who provides animals for the opera, has worked with everything from elephants to insects. She said that animals must perform like human talent, demonstrating the right behaviors and compatibility with the performers. The snakes for this production were selected based on their size, color, and ability to work with Ziegfeld. Novograd emphasized that the animals must be the right fit for the role.
