NEW YORK — Even snakes have to audition for a role at the Metropolitan Opera.
A boa constrictor named Princess has been selected to appear in an upcoming production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, where she will briefly take center stage in a colorful adaptation inspired by 1950s Coney Island.
Choosing the right reptile fell to Zoe Ziegfeld, a former carnival performer who plays the production’s snake handler. During auditions, Ziegfeld tested several snakes by allowing them to crawl across their body, wrap around them and be lifted overhead — movements that will eventually be performed beneath the lights of the Met’s stage.
For Ziegfeld, appearance alone was not enough. The snake also needed to remain calm and comfortable around people.
“I need to know that the animal is comfortable with people and with what we are doing,” Ziegfeld said.
Princess, a large yellow-peach sun-glow boa constrictor, ultimately landed the role thanks in part to her size and strong visual presence.
Ziegfeld said Princess would begin rehearsals on a trial basis, noting that the test was less about the snake’s abilities than whether Ziegfeld could comfortably handle her throughout the performance.
A smaller brown boa named Nala was chosen as Princess’ understudy.
The production marks Ziegfeld’s third appearance as the snake charmer in the Metropolitan Opera’s reimagining of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 1790 comedy.
The original opera follows two Italian soldiers who disguise themselves to test whether their romantic partners will remain faithful. The Met’s version keeps much of that storyline but moves the action to a lively Coney Island carnival filled with bright scenery and sideshow acts.
The setting is familiar territory for Ziegfeld, who previously spent several seasons performing snake-charming shows at Coney Island, sometimes appearing in as many as eight shows a day.
When Ziegfeld first auditioned for the Met years ago, live snakes were not permitted in the audition room. Instead, they presented video footage of their carnival act and demonstrated another sideshow skill known as the “Human Blockhead,” which involves inserting a nail into the nasal cavity.
Ziegfeld said performing at an opera house and working at a carnival may seem very different, but both rely on creating a sense of excitement and wonder among audiences.
The snakes were supplied by animal handler Nancy Novograd and her company, All Tame Animals.
Novograd’s relationship with the Met began when one of her horses appeared in a production of Carmen. Her company has since provided the opera house with animals ranging from elephants to insects.
During the snake auditions, size, coloring and behavior were all considered. Some candidates were too small, while another risked blending in poorly with Ziegfeld’s costume.
But temperament remained one of the most important factors.
“Animals have to perform as do human talent,” Novograd said, explaining that some must carry out specific behaviors while others simply need to work comfortably alongside performers.
For Princess, the combination of size, appearance and personality was enough to earn her an unusually prestigious stage debut.