Snake Lands Met Opera Role

In a unique audition process, a boa constrictor named Princess has been selected to appear in an upcoming adaptation of Mozart's 'Così fan tutte' at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The Metropolitan Opera requires almost everyone on stage to audition, including animals like snakes.

The audition process was led by Zoe Ziegfeld, a carnival performer-turned-opera actor who has played the role of the snake charmer in the Met's adaptation of 'Così fan tutte' three times before. Ziegfeld evaluated each snake's demeanor and comfort level with people and the performance environment. Princess, a larger snake with a better visual presence on stage, won the audition.

A brown boa constrictor named Nala will serve as Princess' understudy. The Met's adaptation of 'Così fan tutte' is set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival, a setting that Ziegfeld is familiar with, having spent a couple of seasons on Coney Island doing eight snake-charming shows a day.

## What it means The selection of Princess for the role highlights the meticulous process that the Metropolitan Opera follows in choosing its performers, including animals. The adaptation of 'Così fan tutte' is a unique blend of opera and carnival elements, and the inclusion of a snake as a performer adds to the production's excitement and novelty. With Princess and Nala on board, the production is set to deliver a memorable experience for audiences.

## Background The original 'Così fan tutte' opera by Mozart tells the story of two Italian soldiers who test their lovers' fidelity by pretending to head off to war and then disguising themselves to try to seduce each other's girlfriends. The Met's adaptation retains the core plot but transports it to a 1950s Coney Island carnival setting, adding a fresh twist to the classic story.