Vocal weight refers to a voice's ability to handle changes in vocal dynamic. Weight is often determined by the thickness of the vocal cords. All voices can sing loudly or softly to some degree, but different voices handle changes in dynamic differently. A voice can be said to have a dramatic or lyric quality. Vocal weight can also effect flexibility and facility with staccato vs. legato lines. Heavier voices can sound awkward singing staccato sections, and lighter voices may have trouble filling out legato lines.

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Voice type. (Discuss)

There are many types of systems for evaluating a singers timbre and range. In German, this system is called fach and exists so singers are able to sing roles at an appropriate timbre and weight, so they will be heard in a theatre without having microphones. Fach is often contested. Many singers in Germany who end up placed in a fach can have trouble getting back out of their assigned place, but this has become less of a problem in recent times. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The German Fach (pl. ...

Female voices

Soprano categories

• Coloratura - A type of decoration of a singers style which a soprano may choose to sing with or possess naturally. See coloratura for more information. There are two subtypes:

• Lyric - A high, flexible and often light voice with the ability for coloratura. Range to a high F (F6) in the The Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute). Also sings roles like Lakmé (Lakmé), Olympia (Tales of Hoffmann) and Gilda (Rigoletto), though sometimes lyric coloraturas cover dramatic coloratura roles as well. Examples would be Edita Gruberova, Natalie Dessay, and Patrizia Ciofi.

• Dramatic - Is powerful enough to sound dramatic, but unlike many other voice types, agility is not compromised and so can execute vocal acrobatics and melismas. Range to a high E-flat (E-flat6) and can sustain coloratura at full volume. In classical music, it can sing over the orchestra with ease and agility in roles like Bellini's Norma and Violetta (La Traviata). Examples are Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas, Montserrat Caballe and June Anderson.

• Soubrette - A very light yet bright, sweet soprano voice, that is best in the middle voice. The roles a soubrette plays are usually fun, flirty characters like Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), and Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier). Soubrette roles are often covered by light lyric and lyric coloratura voices as well. In classical music, a soubrette can be considered a female soprano that sings best in middle voice with no strenuous vocal dynamics. Examples of soubrettes would be Dawn Upshaw and Kathleen Battle.

• Lyric - This voice is smooth and mellow. When a Lyric voice becomes loud, it can sound strenuous or very pushed. As a result, it does not like to sing loudly frequently. Agility and crisp diction are its strong points. In opera, characters with lyric voices are generally more vulnerable. The voice usually consists of a warm, full, graceful sound which can be heard over an orchestra. Subcategories of this would be full lyric and light lyric.

• Light lyric roles include Pamina (The Magic Flute) and can often be covered by soubrettes. Examples would be Ruth Ann Swenson or Anna Netrebko.

• Full lyric voices are somewhat heavier and sing roles like Mimi (La Bohème). Examples of full lyric soprano would be Mirella Freni and Renee Fleming.

• Spinto - This voice has a more robust and full sound compared to a lyric voice. It can be pushed (hence its Italian name) to dramatic climaxes, but also has a very lyric quality. It handles vocal dynamic changes very well. In opera this voice is often considered a "baby" dramatic; a larger voice but not quite to the level of dramatic. Many spintos will develop into dramatics later into their careers. Some roles in the spinto reportoire are Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Aida (Aida), Adriana Lecovreur (Adriana Lecouvreur), Butterfly (Madama Butterfly), Manon (Manon Lescaut (Puccini)) and Elisabeth of Valois (Don Carlos). Examples of spinto sopranos would be Renata Tebaldi and Leontyne Price.

• Dramatic - This voice can sing over the orchestra, the choir, and any other accompaniments. As the vocal chords are thicker, agility is usually compromised. Singers who are classified as having dramatic voices have very strong and vigorous singing voices. In opera, characters with dramatic voices are usually strong, heroic, and frequently tragic. A very powerful and large voice which can be heard over full orchestras; sings Verdi or German roles.

• Dramatic sopranos sing roles like Elsa (Lohengrin), Senta (The Flying Dutchman) and Amelia (Un ballo in maschera). Examples of dramatic sopranos are Lotte Lehmann, Leonie Rysanek, Nina Stemme, Eileen Farrell, Ghena Dimitrova, Eva Marton, Jane Eaglen, and Deborah Voigt.

• Wagnerian sopranos sing roles like Brünnhilde (Der Ring des Nibelungen), Isolde (Tristan und Isolde) and Kundry (Parsifal). Examples of Wagnerian sopranos would be Helen Traubel, Kirsten Flagstad, Astrid Varnay, and Birgit Nilsson.

Coloratura is an old word meaning colouring. ... Coloratura is an old word meaning colouring. ... Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, (en: The Magic Flute) is an opera in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. ... Original poster for Lakmé Lakmé is an opera in three acts by Léo Delibes to a French libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille, based on the 1880 novel Rarahu ou Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti. ... Tales of Hoffmann (Les contes dHoffmann) is an opera by Jacques Offenbach. ... Giuseppe Verdi, by Giovanni Boldini, 1886 (National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome) Rigoletto is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. ... Edita Gruberova (born December 23, 1946) is a Czechoslovakian opera singer who is one of the most acclaimed coloraturas of recent decades. ... Natalie Dessay (born in Lyon, 19 April 1965) is an important French opera soprano. ... The Italian soprano Patrizia Ciofi (born 1967) is a contemporary opera singer. ... Vincenzo Bellini Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (November 3, 1801 – September 23, 1835) was an Italian opera composer. ... Norma is an opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani. ... La traviata, an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, takes as its basis the novel La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, published in 1848. ... Joan Sutherland as Haydns Euridice, Vienna 1967 Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE (born November 7, 1926) is an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the bel canto revival of the 1950s and 1960s. ... Maria Callas (Greek: Μαρία Κάλλας) (December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek dramatic coloratura soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ... Catalan soprano Montserrat Caballé The Catalan soprano Montserrat Caballé (born 12 April 1933) is a famous opera singer, renowned for her bel canto technique and her interpretations of the great bel canto roles of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. ... June Anderson (born December 30, 1952) is an American coloratura soprano. ... Soubrette is a term to describe a leggiero soprano in classical music. ... Così fan tutte is an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ... Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata (Trans: ), K. 492, is an opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, Le mariage de Figaro (1784). ... Der Rosenkavalier (The Cavalier of the Rose) is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. ... Look up soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960 in Nashville, Tennessee), is an American soprano. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The New Opera in Oslo, Norway The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, (en: The Magic Flute) is an opera in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. ... Ruth Ann Swenson (born 1960) is an American soprano. ... The Russian soprano Anna Netrebko (born 18 September 1971) is a well-known opera singer. ... For other uses, see La bohème (disambiguation). ... Mirella Freni Mirella Freni (born 27 February 1935) is a famous Italian opera soprano much admired for the youthful quality of her voice and her acting skills. ... The American soprano Renée Fleming (born 14 February 1959) is a leading opera singer. ... Spinto is a vocal term used to characterize a soprano or tenor voice of a weight between lyric and dramatic that is capable of handling large dramatic climaxes at moderate intervals. ... The New Opera in Oslo, Norway The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Don Giovanni (K.527) is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. ... AIDA is an acronym used in marketing that describes a common list of events that are very often undergone when a person is selling a product or service: A - Attention (Awareness): attract the attention of the customer. ... Adriana Lecouvreur is an opera by Francesco Cilea. ... Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. ... Manon Lescaut is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Domenico Oliva and Luigi Illica, based on L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost. ... This article refers to the opera Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi (and its revised Italian version, known as Don Carlo). ... Renata Tebaldi The Italian opera singer Renata Tebaldi (February 1, 1922 – December 19, 2004) was one of the most famous sopranos of the post-war period. ... Legendary Leontyne Price by Jack Mitchell, 1981 Mary Violet Leontyne Price (born February 10, 1927) is an American opera singer (soprano). ... The New Opera in Oslo, Norway The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Heroine (female hero) redirects here. ... Tragedy is one of the oldest forms of drama. ... Lohengrin is a romantic opera (or music drama) in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... The Flying Dutchman by Albert Pinkham Ryder For other uses, see The Flying Dutchman (disambiguation). ... Un ballo in maschera, or A Masked Ball, is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. ... Lotte Lehmann The German soprano Lotte Lehmann (February 27, 1888 – August 26, 1976) was an opera singer who was especially associated with German repertory. ... Leonie Rysanek (November 14, 1926 – March 7, 1998) was an Austrian soprano. ... The American soprano Eileen Farrell (February 13, 1920 - March 16, 2002) was a famous opera and concert singer. ... Ghena Dimitrova (May 6, 1941 – June 11, 2005) was a Bulgarian operatic soprano. ... Jane Eaglen (born April 4, 1960) is an English operatic soprano. ... The American soprano Deborah Voigt (August 4th, 1960 – ) is a well known opera singer. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ... Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Strassburg, which in turn was based on the story of Tristan and Iseult as told in French by Thomas of... Parsifal is a music drama in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... Helen Traubel (June 16, 1899-July 28, 1972), was an American operatic soprano, best known for her Wagnerian roles, especially that of Brünnhilde. ... Kirsten Flagstad Kirsten MÃ¥lfrid Flagstad (July 12, 1895 – December 7, 1962) was a Norwegian opera singer. ... Astrid Varnay (born April 25, 1918 in Stockholm, Sweden) is an American soprano. ... Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson (May 17, 1918 – December 25, 2005) was a Swedish soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. ...

Mezzo soprano categories

Mezzos have similar ranges to sopranos, but darker timbres. The following subcategories apply to them:

• Coloratura mezzo soprano - Mezzo sopranos can also be coloraturas; Rossini especially liked to employ mezzo coloratura in his operas, such as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia and the title role in Tancredi. There are also great coloratura mezzo roles in Baroque opera, such as 'Ruggiero' in Alcina. Some great coloratura mezzos are Teresa Berganza, Cecilia Bartoli, and Vesselina Kasarova.

• Lyric - A lighter, smaller mezzo voice. Can have a range up to, or even above High C, but has difficulties singing above an orchestra and often has a metallic tonal quality in the upper register. Can often sing breeches roles like Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, but can also sing roles like Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte. Some examples would be: Frederica von Stade, Jennifer Larmore, Anne-Sofie von Otter, and Susan Graham.

• Dramatic - Fuller sound than a lyric mezzo, often with a somewhat lower range, but the voice itself is larger. Can sing above an orchestra, chorus and so on with ease. Sings roles like Amneris in Aida, the Kostelnicka in Jenufa, Dalila in Samson et Dalila, and the title role of Carmen. Some examples would be Christa Ludwig, Marilyn Horne, and Dolora Zajick.

• German Dramatic - Sing mezzo parts in Wagner's and Richard Strauss' operas such as 'Klytämnestra' in Elektra, 'Herodias' in Salome and the 2nd Norn in Der Ring des Niebelungen. Many German dramatic mezzos start out their career as German dramatic sopranos. Some prominent examples are Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Anja Silja.

Portrait Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868)[1] was an Italian musical composer who wrote more than 30 operas as well as sacred music and chamber music. ... The Barber of Seville is a theatre play by Beaumarchais, written in 1775, and originally entitled Le Barbier de Séville in French. ... Tancredi is an opera in two acts by composer Gioacchino Rossini and librettist Luigi Lechi, based on Voltaires play Tancrède (1759). ... The term Baroque Opera refers to operas written in the 17th Century up until the mid 18th Century. ... Alcina is an opera composed by George Frideric Handel for his first season at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. ... Teresa Berganza The Spanish opera singer Teresa Berganza (born 16 March 1935) is a well-known mezzo-soprano most closely associated with the roles of Rossini, Mozart, and Bizet. ... Cecilia Bartoli The Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli (born 4 June 1966) is a popular opera singer and recitalist. ... Vesselina Kasarova Vesselina Kasarova (Bulgarian: ) is a Bulgarian-Swiss mezzo-soprano. ... A breeches role (also pants role or trouser role) is a role in which an actress appears in male clothes (breeches being tight-fitting knee-length pants, the standard male garment at the time breeches roles were introduced). ... Le Nozze di Figaro, is a comic opera composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Beaumarchais. ... Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico, or opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. ... Così fan tutte is an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ... Frederica von Stade (b. ... The Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter (born 9 May 1955) well-known opera singer and concert recitalist. ... Susan Graham (1960– ) is a mezzo-soprano classical singer, born in Roswell, New Mexico, USA. Her roles include Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking, and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier. ... AIDA is an acronym used in marketing that describes a common list of events that are very often undergone when a person is selling a product or service: A - Attention (Awareness): attract the attention of the customer. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... This article or section should be merged with Samson and Delilah (opera) Samson et Dalila is an opera in three acts (or four tableaux) composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, initially in 1866 to 1868, and reworked from 1873 to 1877. ... Poster from the 1875 premiere of Carmen Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. ... Christa Ludwig (born March 16, German mezzo_soprano, known both for her opera performances and her singing of Lieder. ... Marilyn Horne The American opera singer Marilyn Horne (born January 16, 1934) is a mezzo soprano who is particularly associated with the music of Rossini and Handel. ... Dolora Zajick, born 24 March 1952 in Salem, Oregon, is an American mezzo-soprano who specialises in the Verdian repertoire. ... This article is about the German composer of tone-poems and operas. ... Elektra is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss, to a German-language libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal adapted from his drama of 1903—the first of many such collaborations between composer and librettist. ... Salome is an opera in one act by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by the composer, based on Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of the French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde. ... Valkyrie Warrior Maiden by artist Arthur Rackham (1912) Der Ring des Nibelungen, commonly translated into English as The Ring of the Nibelung or The Nibelungs Ring, is a series of four epic music dramas based loosely on figures and elements of Germanic paganism, particularly from the Icelanders sagas and... Astrid Varnay (born April 25, 1918 in Stockholm, Sweden) is an American soprano. ... Leonie Rysanek (November 14, 1926 – March 7, 1998) was an Austrian soprano. ... Anja Silja, German soprano, born April 17, 1940 in Berlin. ...

Contralto categories

Contraltos (also called altos, mainly in choral music where it is a range designation and not a matter of vocal weight) have lower ranges and tessitura than Mezzo sopranos or Sopranos. True contraltos are very rare. This article is about choirs, musical ensembles containing singers. ...

• Contralto - Deep and dark voice; true contraltos are very rare. They sing roles like Azucena in Il Trovatore, Penelope in Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, and Public Opinion in Orphée aux Enfers. Prominent classical examples of this vocal type are Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Marian Anderson, and Ewa Podles.

• Dramatic Contralto - heavier in tone and stronger in power than the regular contralto. Erda in Das Rheingold.

Il trovatore (The Troubadour) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Leone Emanuele Bardare and Salvatore Cammarano, based on the play El Trobador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. ... Orphée aux enfers is an operetta in two acts by Jacques Offenbach. ... Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993)[1] was an American contralto, perhaps best remembered for her performance on Easter Sunday, 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Ewa Podles is a Polish-born Contralto, whose amazing repertoire ranges from Handels Giulio Cesare (Cesare) to songs by Shostakovich. ... For the famous train, see Rheingold Express. ...

Male voices

Male voices can be divided into counter-tenor, tenor, baritone and bass.

Counter-tenor

Counter-tenors have the highest male voice range and generally sing roles written for castrato such as the title role in Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Farnace in Mitridate, Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea and Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice. They often sing in the falsetto voice, though some men can sing this range without using falsetto voice. Some prominent counter-tenors are Andreas Scholl, David Daniels, Brian Asawa, and Jean-Paul Fouchecourt. A castrato is a male soprano, mezzo-soprano, or alto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity. ... Falsetto (IPA: Italian , General American , RP ) is a singing technique that produces sounds that are pitched higher than the singers normal range. ...

Tenor categories

• Leggiero or light-lyric- The male equivalent of a lyric coloratura, this tenor voice is very light and is capable of reaching high notes. It is not uncommon for Leggieros to have a natural high extension that reaches past C5 and often topping around E5 and F5, and in rare cases around G5 (though seldom used in repertoire, with the exception of the role of Lord Arturo Talbot in Bellini's "I Puritani", in the third act ensemble "Credeasi, misera", where he must perform the high F). This voice does not carry the 'chest voice' or resonance into its higher register and this it is easier for it to access the higher tessitura than for any of the other tenors, even if the sound is brighter but less powerful than its other counterparts. Another characteristic of this voice is its flexibility and agility. Roles include Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Gerald in Lakmé, Tonio in La fille du régiment, and Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte. An example of a tenor leggiero would be Juan Diego Florez.

• Lyric or lirico - A strong yet not heavy voice with range up to C5. Sings roles like Rodolfo in La Boheme, Argirio in Tancredi, and The Duke in Rigoletto. Examples for this voice would be would be Luciano Pavarotti, Ramon Vargas, and Salvatore Licitra.

• Spinto - Heavier than a lyric but not quite a dramatic. Sings roles like Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Canio in I Pagliacci, and Don José in Carmen. Some prominent spinto includes Roberto Alagna.

• Drammatico or dramatic tenor or di forza or robusto: A powerful, rich, heroic tenor. Examples for this voice would be Plácido Domingo, Mario del Monaco, Franco Corelli, and Jose Cura.

• Heldentenor (German repertoire for "heroic tenor") - A rich, powerful, and dramatic voice capable of reaching the low G or A below Middle C and effortlessly executing the Tenor C (or B one step below). As its name implies, the Heldentenor vocal fach is usually featured in musico-drama settings, and in the German Romantic operatic repertoire in particular (especially in the works of Wagner and in Beethoven's Florestan). Ben Heppner is considered the premier Heldentenor of the present generation; prominent Heldentenors of past decades include Lauritz Melchior, Wolfgang Windgassen and Jon Vickers. The keystone of any heldentenor's repertoire is arguably Wagner's Siegfried, an extremely demanding role requiring a wide vocal range, great stamina, and extended dramatic suspension. In the dramatic Italian operatic repertoire, Verdi's Otello also stands out as a demanding test of the Heldentenor's abilities.

Remarks: Please note that most tenors stretched their repertoire from time to time or depending on the drama roles, such as Placido Domingo who has taken roles from lirico to drammatico and also Heldentenor for Wagner’s opera. The category above is just an example for certain arias sung by them. Pavarotti for example can also be categorized as lirico and spinto in the same time. The Barber of Seville is a theatre play by Beaumarchais, written in 1775, and originally entitled Le Barbier de Séville in French. ... Original poster for Lakmé Lakmé is an opera in three acts by Léo Delibes to a French libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille, based on the 1880 novel Rarahu ou Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti. ... La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) is a comic opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. ... Così fan tutte is an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ... Juan Diego Flórez was born in 1973 in Lima, Peru. ... La Bohème, French for The Bohemian Life, is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on La Vie de Bohème by Henri Murger. ... Giuseppe Verdi, by Giovanni Boldini, 1886 (National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome) Rigoletto is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. ... Luciano Pavarotti (born October 12, 1935) is an Italian tenor who is one of the best known vocal performers in contemporary times, in the world of opera and across multiple musical genres. ... Ramon Vargas (1960) is an award-winning Mexican lyric tenor opera singer. ... Salvatore Licitra (born 1968) is a tenor. ... Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. ... Pagliacci (The Clowns) is an opera in two acts and a prologue by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. ... Poster from the 1875 premiere of Carmen Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. ... Roberto Alagna (born June 7, 1963) is French operatic tenor. ... José Plácido Domingo Embil (born January 21, 1941[1]), better known as Plácido Domingo, is a world-famous Spanish operatic tenor. ... Mario del Monaco (Florence July 27, 1915 - October 16, 1982 in Mestre) was an Italian tenor. ... Franco Corelli. ... José Cura (born 5 December 1962) is an Argentine tenor. ... Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... 1820 portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler Ludwig van Beethoven (IPA: ), (baptized December 17, 1770[1] – March 26, 1827) was a German composer. ... Fidelio (Op. ... Ben Heppner OC (born January 14, 1956) is a Canadian tenor, specializing in opera and classical symphonic works for voice. ... Lauritz Melchior (often misspelled Melchoir) (born March 20, 1890 – died March 18, 1973) was a Danish and later American opera singer. ... Wolfgang Windgassen (born Annemasse, France, June 26, 1914 – died Stuttgart, Germany, 8 September 1974) was a German tenor internationally known for his performances in Wagner operas. ... Jon S. Vickers, CC , D.Mus. ... Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (either October 9 or 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901) was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. ...

Baritone Categories

• Lyric - High tessitura and lighter voice, quite often a comic character. Examples would be Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, and Escamillo in Carmen. Examples of this voice type would be Simon Keenlyside and Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

• Dramatic - Lower tessitura than a lyric, rich and full voice. Sings roles like the title character of Rigoletto.

Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, (en: The Magic Flute) is an opera in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. ... Le Nozze di Figaro, is a comic opera composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Beaumarchais. ... Poster from the 1875 premiere of Carmen Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. ... Simon Keenlyside is a a noted baritone opera singer from Britain. ... Giuseppe Verdi, by Giovanni Boldini, 1886 (National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome) Rigoletto is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. ...

Bass-Baritone

• Also known by the terms "Heldenbariton" and "basso cantante", a bass-baritone has the tessitura of a baritone but the lower range that is customary of a basso. Because of that, bass-baritones often play either villainous characters in operas (such as Duke Bluebeard in Bluebeard's Castle or as regal but older men such as Wotan from Die Walküre - although that is not always the case, with such examples like Fidelio from Fidelio, Golaud from Pelleas et Melisande, and Guillaume Tell from Guillaume Tell to name a few. Some famous bass-baritones include Jose van Dam, Samuel Ramey, Thomas Quasthoff, Theo Adam, Bryn Terfel, and Frederich Schorr.

A kékszakállú herceg vára, (commonly referred to by its English name, Duke Bluebeards Castle) is a one-act opera by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. ... Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) is the second of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. ... Fidelio (Op. ... Pelléas et Mélisande is a famous Symbolist play by Maurice Maeterlinck about the forbidden, doomed love of the title characters. ... William Tell is an opera by Gioacchino Rossini. ... Baron José van Dam (August 25, 1940) is one of the most prominent and sought-after interpreters of the baritone-bass repertoire. ... The American opera singer Samuel Edward Ramey (March 28, 1942) is considered by many the finest bass-baritone singer of his generation. ... The German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff (born November 9, 1959) is generally regarded as one of the finest lieder singers of his generation. ... Black Adam is a Fawcett Comics and DC Comics supervillain, often a rival of Captain Marvel. ... Bryn Terfel The Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, CBE (born November 9, 1965) is one of the best-known contemporary opera and concert singers. ...

Bass Categories

• Lyric - Has agility but also a deep tone. Roles are often sung by lyric baritones and vice-versa. Example roles would be both Figaro roles and Leporello in Don Giovanni. Examples of this type of singer would be Lorenzo Regazzo and Bryn Terfel.

• Heavy - Very dark and deep, such as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte or the Commendatore in Don Giovanni. Example: René Pape.

Figaro may refer to any of the following: Figaro, the central character in the comedies, The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Guilty Mother by Pierre de Beaumarchais. ... Don Giovanni (K.527) is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. ... Bryn Terfel The Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, CBE (born November 9, 1965) is one of the best-known contemporary opera and concert singers. ... Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, (en: The Magic Flute) is an opera in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. ... Don Giovanni (K.527) is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. ... René Pape (born 4 September 1964 in Dresden, Germany) is an Opera singer. ...

Miscellaneous male voice categories

• Profondo - A rich and deep, extremely dark dramatic male bass voice capable of executing notes at or lower than C2, C two octaves below Middle C.

• Baritenor - a voice having a range between that of a tenor and a baritone; a lower tessitura than that of a true tenor but one higher than a true baritone.