Bel+Canto

Bel canto refers to the art and science of vocal technique that originated in Italy during the late sixteenth century. The singing style reached its pinnacle during the early part of the nineteenth century, and is now known as // the bel canto era // of opera. The works of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti are favorites among // bel canto // lovers. Bel canto singing characteristically focuses on perfect evenness throughout the voice, skillful legato, a light upper register, tremendous agility and flexibility, and a certain lyric, "sweet" timbre. Operas of the style feature extensive ornamentation, requiring much in the way of fast scales and cadenzas. The term // bel canto // did not come into common usage in its current sense until the middle of the 19th century. At that time composers such as Wagner began to call for larger and more dramatic voices. Rossini, along with other opponents of this trend, complained, "Alas for us, we have lost our // bel canto // ." It is well documented, however, that Wagner was influenced by Bellini’s melodic writing. He wrote, "I shall never forget the impression made upon me by an opera of Bellini at a period when I was completely exhausted with the everlastingly abstract complication used in our orchestras, when a simple and noble melody was revealed anew to me." The sopranos Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé, and the mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne are well-known bel canto singers of the late 1900s, and best exemplify the beautiful singing style. June Anderson has also had success singing soprano roles, almost exclusively in the bel canto repertoire. Male singers known for their bel canto skills include Alfredo Kraus, Chris Merritt, Rockwell Blake, and Maria Lanza. May we always have bel canto singers, so we always have beautiful opera!
 * Beautiful Singing, Beautiful Opera**

View this **PowerPoint** to learn more about Joan Sutherland.
 * __Artist Spotlight: Joan Sutherland__**