Character descriptions and audition pieces

Violetta (soprano) [Zuleikha]

It is intended to double-cast Violetta, sharing the 10-12 performances, and covering for
unexpected illness. The ‘non-Violetta’ will be invited to be a non-singing support role
and/or help backstage, but this is optional.

Playing age between 35 and 45.

Violetta is a senior hostess at the Grand Casino, popular and attractive. She will be heavily made
up and with a security lanyard or badge at the casino. She comes from a lower middle-class
background and is not wealthy. She has a terminal disease, so that must be plausible in her
appearance.

She is used to a life of self-indulgent pleasure, which she embraces due to her terminal disease,
but the appearance of Alfred stirs in her the desire for true love she felt in her youth: this throws
her life into chaos. We must witness the emotional impact of this change from a confidently
maintained exterior to emotional vulnerability.

Audition pieces –
Pp 64-69 ‘Sempre libera..’, (with or without Alfred).
Pp 196-199, including the recit at the beginning.

Audition- Violetta pp 196-199 (2)

Audition- Violetta Alfred pp64-69

Acting auditions – see Word document at bottom of this section

Alfred (tenor) [Hassan al-Freyd]

Playing age between 30 and 40.

Alfred is the son of George Germont (a member of the royal house on whose wealth he relies), but
he does not always wear the traditional white Arab robes. Alfred is spoilt, naive and impetuous. He
follows his heart with no thought of duty or the consequences of his actions. However he is
genuine in his love for Violetta, and he must be an empathetic character for the audience. He has
been admiring Violetta at the casino for some time, and is besotted with her. He has a range of
emotions to perform, from love and generosity, to anger and jealousy.

Audition pieces – pp 70-top of 74, including the recit.
Opening bars of the drinking song, pp18-19.
The duet part in ‘Sempre libera’ pp64 et seq

Audition- Violetta Alfred pp64-69

Audition- Alfred pp70-75

Audition- Alfred pp18-19

Acting auditions – see Word document at bottom of this section

George Germont (baritone) [Mohammed al-Freyd]

The singer playing George will understudy the part of Douphol, and vice versa, to cover for
unexpected illness. If the unwell singer cannot mime their role, the remaining singer will
sing both parts (with a costume change), and the part of Douphol would be dropped from
Number 15.

Playing age between 55 and 65.

George Germont is a wealthy member of the royal house. He invariably wears the traditional white
Arab robes. To George, family honour is everything, although during the action he is moved to
completely re-examine his priorities, so this change must be well acted. George does not appear
in the action as much as some other principals, but his presence and power are crucial to the
drama. He must come across as authoritative and powerful.

Audition piece – pp 111-114

Audition- Germont pp111-114

Acting auditions – see Word document at bottom of this section

Auditions for Flora, Annina, Gaston, Doctor and Douphol.

As these parts do not have an aria, will auditionees please prepare two short but
contrasting auditions in English from opera and/or art song to demonstrate their capability and their
interpretation of their chosen role.

Flora (mezzo). [Reema]

The singer playing Flora will understudy the part of Annina, and vice versa, to cover for
unexpected illness. If the unwell singer cannot mime their role, the remaining singer will
sing both parts onstage (with a costume change), as they appear in alternate acts.

Playing age between 40 and 50.

Flora is part of the wealthy aristocracy that frequents the Casino, and is expensively dressed. She
has befriended Violetta, is a confident host, and commands respect from the other guests.

Annina (soprano). [Amira]

The singer playing Annina will understudy the part of Flora, and vice versa, to cover for
unexpected illness. If the unwell singer cannot mime their role, the remaining singer will
sing both parts onstage (with a costume change), as they appear in alternate acts.

Playing age between 35 and 45.

Annina is a friend of Violetta’s who helps her around the house, probably for a low wage. She is
poor and lower class in society, and will likely wear a tight Muslim head-scarf and loose colourless
robe. She is trusted to carry out business matters like selling possessions, but she is artless, as
she tells Alfred about this matter, without hesitation.

Gaston (tenor). [Salman]

The singer playing Gaston will understudy Alfred to cover for unexpected illness. (In this
eventuality, a further understudy will play the non-ensemble parts of Gaston (only).)

Playing age between 30 and 40, similar age to Alfred.

Gaston is a good-time companion of Alfred’s (and an important tenor in the Act 1 and Act 3
ensembles), but takes Violetta’s side when Alfred insults her. He is middle class, but not
necessarily from the royal house. (There are not too many constraints in the script, so the singer
can develop his own character.)

Baron Douphol (baritone). [Abdul]

The singer playing Douphol will understudy the part of Germont, and vice versa, to cover
for unexpected illness. In this eventuality, the singer will sing both parts onstage (with a
costume change), as they appear in alternate acts, and Douphol would be dropped from
number 15.

Playing age between 40 and 50.

Douphol is the manager of the casino, and as such holds total control over the hostesses such as
Violetta, with whom he may have a controlling relationship. He is probably an outsider to the royal
house, but employed to keep the casino happy and profitable. Gets drawn into a fight with Alfred
when Violetta lies about loving him. I see him as a bit slimy and shady, but a different interpretation
is plausible. He is actually a loser, both at cards and in the fight with Alfred! Must show high
tension in scenes with Alfred.

Doctor (bass).

Playing age between 35 and 50.
The Doctor/Marquis (the parts are merged) is part of the social set that parties at the casino.

Acting audition material