A repetiteur, also known as a “rehearser,” is a person who supervises rehearsals for opera and ballet performances, as well as orchestra rehearsals. Repetiteurs are experts in their field and typically have a lot of experience. Some are former performers, while others are studying to become conductors, and still others are planning to work as repetiteurs for the rest of their lives. People who want to work as a repetiteur can put in years of training to gain the necessary experience.
The repetiteur’s exact role varies depending on the production and company. She or he collaborates closely with the director, conductor, and other members of the artistic team to develop and maintain a vision for the piece’s look and feel. The repetiteur is a skilled sight reader of music who is familiar with all of the music and all of the parts. For rehearsals, many people can play at least one instrument, such as the piano.
The repetiteur in ballet teaches the steps and works with the dancers in rehearsal to ensure that they work well together. This can include both private and group coaching sessions with individual dancers. Repetiteurs are very concerned with making sure that the steps are performed correctly and that the mood of the piece is conveyed through the dancers’ expressions.
During rehearsals, operatic repetiteurs assist the singers. The repetiteur not only teaches the singers their parts, but also serves as a vocal coach, offering advice on how to bring out the right pitch, tone, and emotions in the voice. She or he also ensures that the singers have their parts down to the last detail and serves as a prompter during rehearsals as the singers learn their parts. The repetiteur can usually sing along and fill in for absent singers, as well as provide a rough draft of the score on the piano so that the singers have something to work with.
The performers may work primarily with the repetiteur, especially in the early stages. As they gain confidence in rehearsals, they can begin to collaborate with other members of the artistic team to put the piece together, eventually rehearsing in costume on a fully set stage. When a piece is new, it can take months of rehearsals to get it ready for performance, and even when a production is remounted, it can take several weeks to reacquaint the actors.