A bass-baritone is a type of singing voice that combines features of a bass and a baritone. This voice type became known in the late 1800s to describe singers who could perform specific roles in operas by Richard Wagner. These roles included the main character in Der fliegende Holländer, Wotan in The Ring Cycle, and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice. It is the most common male voice. The term comes from the Greek word βαρύτονος (barýtonos), which means “low sounding.” In choral music, composers usually write music for baritones in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C (F2–F4).
The tenor is a type of male singing voice that falls between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male voice that uses the chest voice. Composers usually write music for the tenor in the range from the second B below middle C to the G above middle C (B2 to G4) in choral music, and from the second B-flat below middle C to the C above middle C (B♭2 to C5) in operatic music.
A contralto is a classical female singing voice with the lowest vocal range among female voice types. Contralto voices are not very common. The range of a contralto is similar to a mezzo-soprano and almost the same as a countertenor.
A mezzo-soprano, which means “half soprano” in Italian, is a type of classical female singing voice. Its range is between the soprano and contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano’s range usually includes the note A below middle C up to the note A two octaves higher (A3 to A5 in scientific pitch notation, where middle C is C4; 220–880 Hz).
A soprano is a type of classical singing voice with the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano’s vocal range is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to A5 in choral music, or to soprano C (C6) or higher in operatic music. In four-part harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which is often the main melody.
A countertenor, also called a contra tenor, is a type of male singing voice in classical music. Its range is similar to that of a female contralto or mezzo-soprano, usually from around E3 to D5 or E5. A special type of countertenor, called a sopranist, can sing as high as a soprano, reaching from about C4 to C6.
A castrato (Italian; plural: castrati) is a male singer who was castrated before puberty to keep a singing voice similar to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto. This voice can also occur in someone who, because of a medical condition affecting hormones, does not reach full sexual maturity. Castration before puberty stops the larynx (voice box) from changing as it normally would during puberty.
“Bel Canto” is the fourth book written by American author Ann Patchett. It was published in 2001 by Perennial, a part of HarperCollins Publishers. The book won the Orange Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Intermède (also spelled intermédie, intramède, or entremets) is a type of French theater performance or show that often includes singing and dancing. It was placed between the parts of a play. It was similar to the Italian intermedio.