OPERA AGENT TELLS ALL: Representation, Casting & the Business of Opera

Finding the right agent is one of the greatest challenges for all opera singers, whether emerging or established. But what does an agent actually look for? When is a singer ready for representation — and what makes an artist someone an agent genuinely wants to work with? In this episode of Vocal Reckoning, I sit down with artist manager Samantha Farber, fouder of SONO ARTISTS (www.sonoartists.com) for a candid look at the business side of an opera career. We discuss the importance of finding the right agent rather than simply finding an agent; what managers expect from singers approaching them for representation; the professional, artistic and personal qualities that can make or break that relationship; and the increasingly complicated realities opera agents have faced in the post-COVID industry. We also look at a part of the profession singers rarely get to see: what happens on the other side of the audition table. Farber discusses her work developing Vienna Opera Lab, an initiative designed to bring singers into direct contact with casting directors and other leading figures from the international opera business — not simply to audition for them, but to hear them speak openly about what they are looking for, how casting decisions are made, and what singers often misunderstand about the process. What makes a casting director pay attention? What makes an agent believe there is a career to build? Why can an excellent singer still struggle to find representation? And in an opera industry that has changed dramatically over the past several years, how should emerging and established professionals approach the business today? For singers attempting to navigate the increasingly opaque machinery of the opera world, this is a conversation about representation, expectations, opportunity — and understanding how the business actually works. Learn more about Vienna Opera Lab: https://www.viennaoperalab.com/