Hearing who has a nice voice is the pre-screening process. That's why so many programs require a demo. I'm sure we'd all be shocked how many Florence Foster Jenkins wannabes are submitting applications and demos. But for the job, if I were hiring, I would want to hear something more than correctness. And I can't evaluate good singing if I don't know the piece.
There's a reason that pianists entering concerto competitions have to provide the judges with the music. That won't solve our problem though because we need them to watch us, not follow along in the score in order to see if we can act as well as sing.
No, everyone doesn't have to sing the same five arias. God forbid! In fact I would say that one of the reasons why there is more "standard" rep for sopranos is because there are so many and it is necessary to sing something a little bit different. But if you have to track down the one remaining copy of a score in North America, then it's too obscure for auditions.
Houndentenor
"Unleash your ferocity on an unsuspecting world." -- Bette Midler
