OT fever in Valencia. «We can’t believe the number of people turning up today and on the other days, or the talent there is. This country is amazing». Noemí Galera, casting director at Gestmusic, was this surprised on Monday before the first phase of the Operación Triunfo casting got under way in the city.
Amid nerves and excitement, and under a scorching sun, the auditions began at Feria Valencia, the second best attended in Spain. Thousands of hopefuls queued in a kilometre-long line to sing a cappella one of the 50 songs chosen by the competition’s Academia. In this first phase, those selected, among them Manilva artist Ana Muñoz, have won the famous, iconic sticker that will allow them to move on to the next round.
OT 2023 is going to see a few changes. The first and most striking will be its move to Amazon Prime Video, becoming the platform’s first weekly live content and offering more than 80 hours of entertainment. «It’s not the same OT now as it was in 2001; it’s a perfect format that we have been adapting and updating. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like music, which is why it is so well received», says Galera.
Once the castings are over, the countdown will begin for the doors of the Academia to open again to welcome the 16 contestants who will train and show their talent as singers, musicians and performers every week in a gala in front of a live audience. For the moment, Noemí Galera confirms that, although «we don’t yet know the exact date it will premiere, it will be at the end of this year».
Following the intense day of auditions in Valencia, 90 hopefuls have gone through to phase 2, of whom 14 had a Prime pass.
