Hi all,

I'm relatively inexperienced as a vocalist and hoping to apply for a course, the audition for which involves a signing exam, comprising of a classical aria or art song, and a romantic aria/art song-minimum two languages. I took voice lessons as a kid, and have some knowledge of vocal technique, and have done alot of amateur choral signing. I'm a mezzo soprano, maybe soprano with practice. I have limited knowledge of the vocal repertoire, and am looking for something reasonably managable, whilst being sufficiently challenging for the purposes of the audition. Also, something pretty or musically substantial would be good. I don't want to do something hackneyed and too standard, as it'll have them rolling their eyes in their heads before I even sing a note! The course itself is not a vocal course, its a masters degree in the Kodaly Inst, in which one has one hour lessons per week in voice, among others things. Anyhow, having not yet found a voice teacher, and getting anxious to at least choose my programme, I come to the voice forum to ask your sound advice!
Could anyone point me in a suitable direction?
Thanks in advance

Maybe this is too standard what about the double dozen dago ditties
http://www.archive.org/details/twentyfouritalia00newy

I think most of them are in the grade 6-8 range, and sometimes they turn up on diploma lists.

Try Dove Sei - Handel, Its about Grade 5 Standard minimum, and very beautiful and one of Janet Bakers favourites.

For an Art Song there are lots to choose from, but Linden Lea - Vaughan Williams is a pretty safe choice.

There and you've got two languages Italian and English.

You could get some good ideas from looking at songs on Schubertline. You can hear them played and see what might appeal to you. There is a transpose feature too if you need to alter keys before you print copies.

Would you care to rephrase that?

Ok, I'll give it its full name: Double Dozen Dago Ditties for Divas.
(Twenty four Italian Songs and Arias)

"Dago" is an ethnic slur. I don't think it is appropriate to use it, in fact it is quite insulting.

Yes its a bit like calling Carmen the Spanish Pikey Opera written by a Frog. Most distasteful.

DDDDD is quite well known for that particular book of songs as it makes quite a nice alliterative bouncing word phrase and no offence is intended, and I'm sorry if any is caused.