At the Metropolitan Opera in New York, even animals audition for roles, as seen in the upcoming adaptation of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” set in a 1950s Coney Island carnival. Zoe Ziegfeld, a former carnival performer, is responsible for selecting the snake for the opera. After auditions, a boa constrictor named Princess was chosen for her visual presence, with another snake, Nala, as her understudy. Ziegfeld, who has played the snake charmer role three times, brings a unique background from performing snake-charming shows at Coney Island. The opera maintains the original plot of testing lovers’ fidelity but adds a vibrant carnival setting. Animals, like snakes, play significant roles in some Met productions, facilitated by Nancy Novograd’s company, All Tame Animals.
QUESTION: How might the inclusion of live animals in performances change the audience’s experience and perception of the opera?
Even snakes have to audition for the opera at the Met. Princess the boa constrictor got the part
