I'm a rising senior at Northwestern, and I'm looking for new repertoire for grad school auditions this year. I'm a soprano stuck somewhere between lyric-land and coloratura-land.

Some of my current rep:

Presentation of the Rose - Sophie, Rosenkavalier
O Quante Volte, I Capuletti e i Montecchi
Tornami a vagheggiar - Alcina
Deh vieni, non tardar - Le Nozze di Figaro
I Want Magic - Streetcar Named Desire

Any other ideas of pieces that might work for me? Suggestions about French arias would be particularly amazing. Oh, and contemporary English art songs too - I'll definitely be needing one of those.

Also, what are people's thoughts on doing Et Incarnatus Est from Mozart's C Minor Mass as my oratorio piece? It feels like heaven to sing, but I've been told it's too long for an audition, especially one where you'll probably be singing 2 pieces, and therefore it's pointless to include because nobody will ask for it. My other alternative at this point is Let the Bright Seraphim, but I feel like it's overdone. Plus, it's an older piece for me, and I feel like I get stuck in old habits with it.

Any advice you can give would be much, much appreciated! Thanks!

So after we had lunch today, this is what I'm doing too. Making lists of what I need for grad school auditions, trying to figure out the fewest number of pieces I can record and still apply...

As far as French arias go, have you considered Manon? I think you'd sing a gorgeous "Je suis encor," and the other two would probably suit you as well. Also, I know you're not necessarily a straight-up coloratura, but what about "Je suis Titania" from Thomas' Mignon? Or "Il faut partir" from La Fille du Régiment (for that matter, what about "Chacun le sait"?)? You'd sing a nice "Du gai soleil," but I know there's something more exciting out there.

I think you should look at John Musto's "Recuerdo" for a contemporary English art song. It's brilliant.

Anne! Lunches are a must. And I'm glad you're feeling more motivated about grad school stuff! We can endure the battle of auditions together! Yay!

And as long as we're posting stuff, here's my five as of right now (this is assuming I'm not going to learn any new repertoire between now and grad school auditions, other than ornaments for my Handel aria).

Deh vieni, non tardar
O wär ich schon mit dir vereint
Du gai soleil
Neghittosi, or voi che fate
Steal me, sweet thief