A Glossary for Listening to Singers, Volume 1

June 15, 2024, 4:00 pm

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Detail of Mathilde Marchesi's treatise of vocal exercises, zoomed in on "Messa di voce"
Detail of Mathilde Marchesi's "Bel Canto: A Theoretical and Practical Vocal Method"

Brush up your knowledge of some the most common terms used when describing the art of singing. This week, Oliver will describe what it means “to phrase” as well as terms related to articulation like staccato and portamento; and a term related to form, cabalettaDon’t worry, there won’t be a pop quiz!

Mariella Devia sings a cabaletta.

 

Playlist

Léo Delibes: The Bell Song from Lakmé
Edita Gruberova, soprano
Munich Radio Orchestra
Gustav Kuhn, conductor

Gioacchino Rossini: “Bel raggio lusinghier” from Semiramide
June Anderson, soprano
Arturo Toscanini Symphonic Orchestra of Emilia Romagna
Miguel Angel Gomez Martinez, conductor

Giacomo Puccini: “Si, mi chiamano Mimì” from La bohème
Renata Tebaldi, soprano
Orchestra e coro dell’ Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma
Alberto Erede, conductor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “Deh vieni, non tardar” from Le nozze di Figaro
Anna Moffo, soprano
Philharmonia Orchestra
Alceo Galliera, conductor

Giuseppe Verdi: “O mio Fernando!” from La favorita
Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra
Georges Prêtre, conductor

Gaetano Donizetti: “Torna, torna o caro oggetto” from Rosmonda d’Inghliterra
Lella Cuberli, soprano
RAI Chorus and Symphonic Orchestra, Milan
Bruno Bartoletti, conductor

Donizetti: “Torna, torna o caro oggetto” from Rosmonda d’Inghliterra
Joan Sutherland, soprano
Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia
Sir John Pritchard, conductor

Camille Saint-Saëns: “Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila
Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
Lawrence Foster, conductor

Francesco Cilea: “Io son l’umile ancella” from Adriana Lecouvreur
Montserrat Caballé, soprano
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Gianfranco Masini, conductor