Chapter 17: Auditions

August, 1870

Evangeline's POV

To say that Erik had me prepared would be an understatement.

As the day for the auditions came closer and closer, Erik's lessons had intensified. There was no time for mediocre work or for playing around. There were even times that we forgot to eat since we would be practicing the entire day. In under three months, I had learned how to sing lyrics in French, Italian, and German, sang over a thousand opera songs, and learned the plots, blockings, and characteristics from over a hundred said operas. In fact, I felt like I was studying to take my senior finals all over again, only this time it wasn't just to be able to graduate. This time, it was because my career was at stake.

And today was the big day!

I had ventured out of the lair via the secret entrance, headed up the marble steps and waited outside the new, gigantic mahogany doors with other singers as we waited for the audition to begin.

I began to look into my satchel to check to see if I had everything. Before I left, Erik had put in a folder with three audition songs, one in French, one in Italian, and one in German as well as a packed lunch so that I wouldn't go hungry during the auditioning process.

Once I saw that everything was still inside, I closed my satchel, smoothed out any wrinkles on my tan and black dress (A/N: the dress is above) and made sure that my hair was still in a neat bun. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the doors opened and all of us formed a single line as we marched inside the building.

As we entered, I couldn't help but wonder in awe at how beautiful the interior was. The floors were a beautiful, rich cremé and were covered with gold and silver designs. The walls were high and gave the place a spacious look and the grand staircase was fixed, its gold railings polished and gleaming.

But before I had a chance to really admire the beauty of this place, I heard a man clear his voice. We all turned to see an old man with gray hair surrounding a bald spot and a young man with green eyes and golden hair that seemed oddly familiar.

"Welcome, ladies." The old man said in a Southern accent, "My name is Johnathan Baptisté and this here is my son and business partner, Robert. Welcome to the Opera Garnier's Prima Donna auditions."

We all applauded as he began to continue.

"I know that all of you are all hoping for this position. Unfortunately, only one of you will be able to stay and work here with us. So, do your best. Now, if you will all please line up single file, take a number and be seated inside the house." With that, the two managers left. All thirty of us girls got into a line as we were given a number to pin on our dresses. When I finally got my number (I was the last in line), the doors closed as we were all seated. Once everyone was settled in, the audition began.

As girls began to take the stage, I sat in my seat, my heart beginning to race as I looked around the house and I suddenly realized something.

Out of the thirty girls that came in, I was the only one who was black.

Now normally, I would be used to seeing other black girls signing up to do stuff like this. Maybe not a bunch of them, but at least some. At least with seeing other black people, it didn't seem so obvious that there were only a few of us. But here, I was literally the odd one out. The lone chocolate chip in a sea of vanilla ice cream.

And it showed.

Every few moments, my eyes would wander from whoever was onstage and lock with another girl's who was staring at me. Some would look in awe, others would look in disgust, there were even a handful of girls who looked at me with pity, as if they were all aware of how uncomfortable I was.

The audition seemed to drag on and on as each girl got up, sang their audition songs, and left so that another could take her place.

"And lastly, number thirty." I heard the old man call out my number.

I took out my folder, got out of my seat, and headed straight for the stage as a growing sense of panic started to creep in.

When I finally got onto center stage, I locked eyes with the managers. The old man stared at me with a mixture of surprise and disgust, while the younger guy looked at me with recognition.

"Is this a joke?" The old man huffed as he looked at me. "Listen here, little picaninny, the job offers for maids and staff have been filled already."

I and the rest of the girls were in shock.

"Excuse me, but I'm here for the Prima Donna auditions," I said, offended.

All he did was give a sharp laugh.

"Hah, as if any person of high society would ever wanna watch a negro girl sing opera. Now, if you're done wasting everyone's time, run along home."

Amongst the collective gasp from the other girls, there were smug looks of triumph and looks of shock and pity.

I was about to react when the younger guy spoke up.

"Now wait a minute here, pa. She came up here to audition just like everyone else. I say we let her."

His father didn't say a word. Instead, he gave me one more distasteful glance and sat back down.

"Your name?" Robert asked as he sat down next to him.

"Evangeline McKenna," I answered as I started to question whether or not it was a good idea for Johnathan Baptisté to catch these fiery hands.

"Well Miss McKenna, in order for you to have the position, you must know how to sing in French, Italian, and German. So, whenever you're ready."

I quickly rushed over to the pianist as I pointed out which audition song to do first.

As soon as he got the sheet music, he began to play the beginning chords. With no way of backing out now, I began to sing.

L'amour est un oiseau rebelle

Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,

Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,

S'il lui convient de refuser.

Rien n'y fait, menace ou prire,

L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;

Et c'est l'autre que je prfre

Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plaît.

L'amour! l'amour! l'amour! l'amour!

L'amour est enfant de boheme,

Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

Si tu ne m'aime pas,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!

Mais, si je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

Si tu ne m'aime pas,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!

Mais, si je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre

Battit de l'aile et s'envola;

L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre;

Tu ne l'attend plus, il est l!

Tout autour de toi vite, vite,

Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient!

Tu crois le tenir, il t'vite;

Tu crois l'viter, il te tient!

L'amour, l'amour, l'amour, l'amour!

L'amour est enfant de boheme,

Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

Si tu ne m'aime pas,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!

Mais, si je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

Si tu ne m'aime pas,

Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!

Mais, si je t'aime,

Si je t'aime, prend garde toi!

The audience was silent as I pointed to another one of my audition songs. As he began to play the beginning chords to song number two, my confidence came back.

Una voce poco faqui nel cor mi risuonò;il mio cor ferito è già,e Lindor fu che il piagò.

Sì, Lindoro mio sarà;lo giurai, la vincerò.

Il tutor ricuserà,io l'ingegno aguzzerò.Alla fin s'accheteràe contenta io resterò.

Sì, Lindoro mio sarà;lo giurai, la vincerò.Sì, Lindoro mio sarà;lo giurai, sì.

Io sono docile, son rispettosa,sono obbediente, dolce, amorosa;mi lascio reggere, mi lascio reggere,mi fo guidar, mi fo guidar.

Ma,ma se mi toccanodov'è il mio debolesarò una vipera, saròe cento trappoleprima di cederefarò giocar, giocar

E cento trappoleprima di cederefarò giocar, farò giocar.

The audience were still staring at me, impressed as I saw a few smile as I sang. By the end, I noticed that more people had entered the house and sat to watch.

Finally, it was time for the last song. As the man plucked at the ivory keys, the adrenaline spiked in my body!

Ach, ich fühl's, es ist verschwunden!

Ewig hin der Liebe Glück,

Ewig hin der Liebe Glück!

Nimmer kommt ihr, Wonnestunden,

Meinem Herzen mehr zurück,

Meinem Herzen, mienem Herzen mehr zurück!

Sieh, Tamino!

Diese Tränen fließen, Trauter, dir allein, dir allein!

Fühlst du nicht der Liebe Sehnen, der Liebe Sehnen,

So wird Ruhe, so wird Ruh im Tode sein,

Fühlst du nicht der Liebe Sehnen,

Fühlst du nicht der Liebe Sehnen,

So wird Ruhe, so wird Ruh im Tode sein,

So wird Ruh im Tode sein, im Tode sein,

Im Tode sein.

As that final note echoed throughout the stage, the entire audience roared with applause. Even Johnathan was clapping. Apparently, while I was singing, the chorus, ballet d' coup, and even some of the staff had decided to listen in and had pretty much made the house packed with viewers.

I bowed in response, quickly gathered my things, and walked off stage to my seat.

As the applause died down, Robert spoke.

"Right, ladies. We will have a 30-minute recess as we choose our newest Prima Donna. Please take this time to relax and to refresh yourselves."

We all left the house of the theatre to get lunch as they deliberated with each other.

I sat by myself near one of the secret entrances to the lair that was inside the walls of the building as I open my satchel to get my lunch. I pulled out a roast beef and swiss cheese sandwich, a peach, and, as an added bonus, a chocolate muffin.

"Erik, you are the bomb!" I whispered, knowing that his nosy behind would hear.

"You are welcome, ma amié," I heared his voice behind me as I chowed down.

*Thirty Minutes Later*

After our break was over, we all entered back in the house as Robert got up from his seat and onto the stage.

"Welcome back, ladies. All of you have done a phenomenal job and we are all aware that every one of you has talent and a desire to work woth this opera company. However, I'm sad to say that we can only choose one of you for this position."

The tension in the room suddenly became thick as we all waited on baited breath to hear the name and number of the Opera Garnier's newest Prima Donna.

"Our newest member and Opera House Prima Donna is....."

A/N: Surprise!

Another chapter so soon after my last one.

Thank you to all of my viewers from the bottom of my heart for the 10.6k. You guys are amazing!

If you have been experiencing technical difficulties with reading the last chapter or with this book in general, then I suggest reading this on a computer or a laptop. If not, then log off the site and log back on. I've tried that and it works, trust me.

If anyone is curious about who these ladies are, then the one performing the Haberena from Carmen is Grace Bumbry, the one performing Una Voce Poco Fa from the Barber of Seville is Reri Grist, and the one performing Ach, Ich Fühl's from Die Zauberflöte is Pretty Yende.

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M'kay, bye!😁