#opera abcs

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Opera ABCs

C is for COLORATURA: Elaborate ornamentation of vocal music written using many fast notes and trills.

The word Coloratura (Italian pronunciation: [koloraˈtuːra]) is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare ("to color").[1] When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and 19th centuries, with runs, trills, wide leaps, or similar virtuoso-like material.[1][2] Its instrumental equivalent is ornamentation. It is also now widely used to refer to passages of such music, operatic roles in which such music plays a prominent part, and singers of these roles.

Some things you need to hear...

“Der Holle Rache..." Die Zauberflote - Mozart

Sung by Diana Damrau

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Opera ABCs

E is for... Enrico Caruso (Italian pronunciation: [enˈriːko kaˈruːzo]; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles from the Italian and French repertoires that ranged from the lyric to the dramatic. Caruso also made approximately 260 commercially released recordings from 1902 to 1920.

Here’s a recording of him singing "Vesti la giubba" from Leoncavallo's Il pagliacci

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Opera ABCs

DA CAPO ARIA (DAH CAH-poh): An aria in the form ABA. A first section is followed by a shorter second section. Then the first is repeated, usually with added ornamentation.

Robert Kingston, Portland Opera’s historian and lecture gives a nice explanation, with a short example here:

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Opera ABCs

B is for Baritone:  The male singing voice between bass and tenor, with a range that extends from the second G below middle C to the first G above middle C.

or Bass:  The lowest male singing voice, similar to a trombone or a bassoon in tone color and range (the second E below middle C to the first E above middle C)

Source Opera America

The gentlemen of the low voices. Sometimes the villain, sometimes comic relief, occasionally the love interest.

This is Figaro in the Barber of Seville (and The marriage of Figaro), Rigoletto in, well, Rigoletto.

Or Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, Leporello in Don Giovanni.

Gotta say forget those tenors, I love a good baritone.

One of my favorite baritone, Luca Pisaroni sings Leoporello’s “Madamina, il catalogo e questo” from Don Giovanni.

Long story short he is explaining to Donna Elvira (one of women Giovanni has “loved” and left about all the women Giovanni has strung along and wronged. He is telling her about he (very) long list he keeps.

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Opera ABCs

A is for Aria: 

A solo piece written for a main character, which focuses on the character's emotion. (Opera America)

Pretty easy here, it’s a song and you probably know one even if you don’t know the name.

This is where we get to know what is going on in the character’s head and heart. Emotional swings often abound. :)

Example below. The amazing Carol Vaness, sings the aria “Dove sono” from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. The Countess is tormented by the cruelties of her husband and wonders what happened to the joys of the past. She moves from despair, to agitation, to anger.