Bel canto Literally “beautiful singing”, a style of Italian opera with pure tone and clean articulation, especially in the early 19th century (Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini)
Cabaletta Fast end section of an aria, especially in Italian opera, usually brilliant and showy
Coloratura From the German Koloratur. Highly elaborate decoration, often sung by a soprano as in Mozart’s Queen of the Night
Da capo aria Form of aria favoured by Handel and others from late 17th and early 18th centuries in three sections, the middle a contrast, the third a repeat of the first
Leitmotif A short musical theme connected with a particular character or idea; associated with Wagner but used by others
Libretto “Little book”, the words of an opera
Soubrette Stock operatic figure, usually a sharp-witted maid such as Mozart’s Susanna or Zerbinetta, often but not necessarily soprano
Pants/Trouser role Male characters sung by women, eg Mozart’s Cherubino
Verismo Italian word for realism applied to late 19th-century Italian works by Puccini, Mascagni, Leoncavallo etc
The earliest description of opera defines it as, “composition in which poetry, dance and music are combined”
The word opera most closely translates to “work”
The first operas were composed around 1600 in Italy. To this day, opera is being composed and produced all over the world in tons of different languages. Some of the best known contemporary compositions are in English
Everyone has a voice with which they speak, sing and communicate. Opera singers are like Olympic athlete-level users of their voice. Through a mix of talent and many years of training/upkeep, they can use their voices in an impressive way!
