Operetta: a ‘little opera’ of light character, operetta alternates spoken dialogue, songs and dances. Despite its name, the subjects of opéras comiques can be serious, like Bizet’s Carmen (1875). Opéra comique: French musical work containing spoken dialogue, equivalent to German Singspiel and English 'Ballad Opera'. More vocal in Italy, more theatrical in Germany, more visual in France, opera can be divided into two main branches: opera seria (serious) which resembles tragedy and treats mythological or historical subjects, and opera buffa (comic) revolving round comedy, with characters drawn from everyday life. Opera: dramatic work set to music and song. A classic musical comedy is Singing in the rain hereunder you can find some pictures from the Théâtre du Châtelet's production. Musical comedy: theatrical work deriving from operetta, it comprises music, songs and dances. With a deeper and warmer voice than the sopranos, the mezzo-soprano usually plays a secondary character such as a mature woman, child minder, traitress, witch, temptress or even young boy - in a nutshell, ‘witches, bitches and breeches’. Mezzo-soprano: Italian for ‘medium’ soprano, this is the second highest female voice. It is most often written by an author or poet (called the librettist), sometimes by the composer himself. Libretto (book): text of an opera, literally ‘little book’ in Italian. The German Romantic composer Richard Wagner used them in all his great music dramas, not only to recall a theme but also to show how it was modified during the course of the plot. Leitmotiv: musical theme (melody, chord, rhythm) associated with a character, an idea, a state of mind or a place. Their roles are today usually played by counter-tenors or mezzo-sopranos. It was forbidden at the end of the 18th century, resulting in the disappearance of the last castrati around the start of the following century. This practice originated from the ban on female voices being heard in public. The virtuosity, range and incomparable power of their voices were very popular in Italian operas of the 17th and 18th centuries. The castrati preserved their childlike pitch while benefiting from the more ample volume produced by an adult’s lungs. Famous bel canto composers are Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti.Ĭastrato: singer with an unbroken voice obtained by castration before the age of puberty. Appearing towards the end of the 17th century, it remained popular till late in the 19th century.

Some examples include Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Alcina, Rinaldo and Acis and Galatea.īass: lowest male voice, the bass is often associated with roles of wise men, older men, and sometimes funny characters.īel canto: literally the Italian for ‘beautiful singing’, bel canto is a richly decorated style, which demands great vocal virtuosity and flawless technique from its interpreters. He wrote over 40 operas, many of which are still regularly performed nowadays.

George Friderich Handel was a prolific opera composer. Baroque operas are characterised by their fantastic plots and by liberal vocal decoration. Here is the duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano which opens the third act of Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 'Belle nuit, ô d’amour' in a version from Dutch National Opera.īaritone: half-low male voice, it is associated with a great variety of characters in the 18th century, and more particularly with the enemy roles in the 19th century.īaroque: period of musical history usually defined as lasting from Monteverdi (1600) to the death of Bach (1750). Other musical genres also have barcarolles, such as those composed by Fauré. Famous examples include the barcarolles in Verdi's Otello and Offenbach’s Les Contes d'Hoffmann. The German equivalent is the Singspiel.īarcarolle: Taken from the Italian barcarola (gondolier), a barcarolle is a Venetian gondoliers' song, whose rhythm imitates the rocking of these boats. A typical example of this style much liked in England in the 18th century is John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera (1728). Used above all in opera, the aria is a test of the singer’s voice.īallad opera: form of opera combining spoken dialogue, dance and popular songs reworking the airs of old ballads. Aria (air): vocal or instrumental melody, sung with or without accompaniment, it represents the moment when the action stops and allows the character to express his or her feelings.

Italian opera singer male