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.

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.

Snakes auditioned for a role in the Metropolitan Opera’s “Così fan tutte” in New York, where performer Zoe Ziegfeld tested their comfort on stage. A boa constrictor named Princess won the part, with Nala as her understudy.

The Metropolitan Opera in New York requires auditions for everyone on stage

Even snakes have to audition for the opera at the Met. Princess the boa constrictor got the part  AP News