Metropolitan Opera holds live snake auditions for Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte’
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Metropolitan Opera in New York requires auditions for all performers on stage, including live animals, as seen in their upcoming adaptation of Mozart’s "Così fan tutte" featuring a snake charmer role.
- Zoe Ziegfeld, a carnival performer turned opera actor, is responsible for selecting and handling the snakes, ensuring they are comfortable and suitable for live performances at the Met.
- A large sun-glow boa constrictor named Princess was chosen for the starring snake role, with a smaller boa named Nala serving as her understudy.
- The Met’s adaptation of "Così fan tutte" is set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival, blending the original opera’s plot with vibrant carnival scenery and sideshow acts.
- Animal trainer Nancy Novograd supplies live animals to the Met and emphasizes that animals must perform reliably and harmonize with human talent, with personality and compatibility being key factors in casting.
