Even snakes have to audition for the opera at the Met. Princess the boa constrictor got the part
Princess, a larger sun-glow boa constrictor, won the audition and will join rehearsals on a trial basis, the Met said.
- On Aug. 28, 2026, the Metropolitan Opera selected a boa constrictor named Princess for a role in an adaptation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera in New York.
- This adaptation, inspired by a 1950s Coney Island carnival, features performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld as the snake handler, who evaluates the snakes' demeanor face-to-face before rehearsals.
- Nancy Novograd of All Tame Animals provided the snakes, ensuring the chosen reptile has the right color, size, and temperament for stage performance.
- Princess, a larger yellow-peach boa constrictor, secured the role due to her visual presence, while a slightly smaller brown boa constrictor named Nala will serve as understudy.
- Having spent seasons performing on Coney Island, Ziegfeld, a former carnival performer who previously executed a Human Blockhead act, brings authentic experience to the opera's sideshow-themed production.
69 Articles
69 Articles
Meet the carnival performer-turned-opera actor in charge of auditioning snakes for a Mozart adaptation. 'We will be moving forward with Princess'
Pretty much everyone on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York must audition — even the snake who will briefly take center stage in an upcoming adaptation of a Mozart classic. In charge of deciding who gets the s-s-s-s-starring reptilian role is Zoe Ziegfeld, a carnival performer-turned-opera actor cast as the snake handler in the Met’s version of “Così fan tutte,” inspired by Coney Island in the 1950s. Ziegfeld takes each snake, lets it sl…
How does a boa constrictor audition for a Met opera?
Ziegfeld takes each snake, lets it slither and wrap around, then hoists the animal over their head, rehearsing what they will do under the bright lights at centre stage for each performance. Ziegfeld looks each one in the eye, almost face-to-face as they evaluate the snake’s demeanour.
Santa Maria Times
Independent EspañolNEW YORK (AP) — Virtually everyone on the stage of the New York Metropolitan Opera must pass an audition, including the snake that will briefly occupy the center of the scene in a forthcoming adaptation of a...
Even snakes have to audition for the opera at the Met. Princess the bo
Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld who plays the part of a snake charmer poses for a portrait with a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
