Principals' Audition Selections
Princess Ida - Audition Selections
Listed in high to low order of vocal range. Page/system/measure numbers are given for two editions of the vocal score: the "Gilbert and Sullivan Archive Edition" (edited by Paul Howarth, sold via Lulu.com), and the Kalmus edition. For example, 33/2/5 means page 33, second system (aka "score" or "line"), at the fifth measure on that system. We will use the Howarth vocal score for this production.
| Role (and Voice Part) | Recommended Excerpt | Pages: Howarth | Pages: Kalmus |
| Princess Ida (Soprano) | "Minerva...Oh, goddess wise" (entire number) | 74/1/1 - 76/4/5 | 48/1/1 - 49/5/7 |
| Lady Psyche (Soprano) | "A lady fair" (first stanza only) | 115/1/4 - 116/3/3 | 69/1/4 - 70/1/2 |
| Melissa (Mezzo-Soprano) | "Now wouldn't you like to rule the roast" (first stanza and refrain; rest during Blanche's solos.) | 135/1/5 - 137/2/7 | 81/1/5 - 83/4/4 |
| Lady Blanche (Contralto) | "Come, might must" (second half of aria, from "Oh weak Might Be!" to end.) | 83/2/1 - 84/4/4 | 51/5/3 - 52/5/6 |
| Prince Hilarion (Tenor) | "Whom thou hast chained" (from Act II Finale) | 158/3/3 - 160/4/3 | 94/3/5 - 96/3/3 |
| Cyril (Tenor) | "Would you know the kind of maid" (second stanza, starting "When a maid is bold and ga," to end.) | 150/1/1 - 151/4/4 | 90/2/4 - 91/3/1 |
| King Gama (Comic Baritone) | "If you give me your attention" (first stanza) | 33/2/5 - 34/4/2 | 25/2/3 - 26/2/3 |
| King Hildebrand (Dramatic Baritone) | "Some years ago..." (first stanza) from the Act II Finale. | 168/1/3 - 169/4/4 | 100/4/4 - 101/5/2 |
| Florian (Baritone) | "I Am a Maiden" (third stanza) | 102/4/2 - 103/3/6 | 63/4/2 - 64/2/8 |
| Arac (Bass-Baritone) | "This helmet I suppose" (first stanza) | 213/1/2 - 213/4/3 | 129/1/2 - 129/4/1 |
| Guron and Scynthius (Bass-Baritones) | "We are warriors three" (starting at "Bold, and fierce, and strong, ha, ha!...") | 30/2/1 - 31/3/1 | 23/1/1 - 23/5/3 |
| Minor roles: Sacharissa (Soprano) has one brief singing phrase and brief dialogue. Chloe and Ada are brief speaking roles. These three women's roles will be cast from the chorus after auditions. You may indicate your interest in them on the audition form, and perform a chorus audition. | |||
Princess Ida - Ensemble Selections for Call-Backs
We will review each of these excerpts as a group, and then select individuals to hear in ensemble. You are encouraged to practice any and all passages for which you think you might be called back, to help facilitate the call-back process, but advance study is in no way required. The sequence below is shown mostly in book order, not necessarily the order in which they will be heard.| Roles | Selections | Pages: Howarth | Pages: Kalmus |
| Arac, Guron, Scynthius | "Yes! Yes! Yes! Masculine in sex" | 27/4/2 - 27/4/3 | 20/4/2 - 20/4/3 |
| Melissa, Blanche | "Sing hey! Sing hoity-toity!" | 136/2/4 - 137/2/7 | 83/1/3 - 83/3/4 |
| Hilarion, Cyril, Florian | "Haughty, humble, coy or free..." | 99/2/1 - 100/1/4 | 61/5/1 - 62/1/8 |
| Ida,Hilarion, Cyril, Florian | "The wolrd is but a broken toy..." | 110/2/2 - 111/2/4 | 67/2/3 - 68/1/1 |
| Psyche, Melissa, Hilarion, Cyril, Florian | "And echo forth the joyous sound..." | 126/1/4 - 128/1/2 | 75/2/3 - 77/1/1 |