Opera launches ‘open call’ to diversify search for child star

AN OPERA company has launched its first “open call” for a child star in order to promote class diversity over the dominance of elite school choirs.

The English Touring Opera (ETO) wants to open up its talent to increase the economic and racial diversity of its cast for George Frideric Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula.

Performers have historically been recruited from affiliated schools and choirs, including elite ensembles at the UK’S fee-paying cathedral schools, where boarding can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Opera bosses hope to broaden the appeal of the art form and encourage untapped talent to come forward, even if prospective stars have no musical training.

James Conway, ETO’S director, said: “We’re excited to be holding an open call for a small but crucial part for a young boy in the role of powerful and kind-hearted god of love, joining our professional company on stage.

“We have made the application process as simple as possible to ensure that it is open to children of all backgrounds, with or without formal musical training, as long as they are strong singers.”

The call for talent is open to boys aged between 10 and 13 to perform the role of Orgando in Amadigi, a tale about a knight in love with a princess.

It is the first casting in the company’s history to be fully open.

Prospective stars hoping to land the role will need to send in a minute or two-minute audio recording of them singing.

The ETO is understood to be particularly keen to reach singers without formal training or choral experience with this approach, in order to achieve greater diversity on stage and reflect the

‘We want to ensure that it is open to children of all backgrounds, with or without formal training’

greater range of communities that the company performs for.

While the company has no quotas or targets, it is hoped that social, economic, and ethnic diversity will be improved with the new casting policy.

Mr Conway said the ETO would be “reconnecting with our communities in all sorts of new ways” when performances begin again in the autumn.

Applications can be made online on the ETO website before Aug 16.