Opera

Opera

Industry: Drama

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Opera

Range

Drama; Opera

When referring to operatic voices, the highest to the lowest note that a singer can successfully sing.

Continuo

Drama; Opera

A small group of instruments that accompanies recitatives in baroque music that includes cello, harpsichord/organ. Operas of Handel, Monteverdi, and Mozart use continuo players.

Contralto

Drama; Opera

The lowest female voice. Often portraying comic, other-worldy, or matronly roles, such as Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff, La Cieca in Ponchielli’s La ...

Counterpoint

Drama; Opera

A style of music in which more than one melody can be heard at one time.

A high male voice that often sings within the contralto and mezzo soprano range. Popular in the baroque period, the countertenor portrayed young, virile men or innocent, blushing adolescents. Until ...

Conductor

Drama; Opera

The leader of the band or orchestra who interprets the music and shapes the pace of the work.

Diaphragm

Drama; Opera

The muscle and connective tissue that separates the chest and abdominal cavity. A singer learns to make the diaphragm stretch to let the lungs fill completely with air. Then, tightens the diaphragm ...