Tumgik
#dramatic coloratura soprano
opera-ghosts · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media
March 5. 1868 the first performance of Arrigo Boito’s Opera “Mefistofele” was presented at the Scala di Milano. Here we see the very rare original castlist from the first performance of this Opera at The Metropolitan Opera 1883 six weeks after the opening from the MET.
11 notes · View notes
Text
Tumblr media
14 notes · View notes
joansutherlandfan · 8 months
Text
Remembering the greatest of the tenors and Joan's close friend - Luciano Pavarotti (12 October 1935 - 6 September 2007).
Tumblr media
[…] "Going to Australia with Joan, first of all, I've learned to be a very serious professional singer and from her particularly, I learn to breath, who is the most important thing, but the most difficult. More than anything, I think the technique is perfect, I think it's probably the most incredible technique of all the time I would say." […]
Excerpt taken from the documentary "Pavarotti - 2019" by Ron Howard.
11 notes · View notes
widevibratobitch · 7 months
Text
youtube
13 years today... rip queen. who could ever do it like you.
3 notes · View notes
mariacallous · 6 months
Text
A Sword & a Caress. Few rate the Callas voice as opera's sweetest or most beautiful. It has its ravishing moments. In quiet passages, it warms and caresses the air. In ensembles, it cuts through the other voices like a Damascus blade, clean and strong. But after the first hour of a performance, it tends to become strident, and late in a hard evening, begins to take on a reverberating quality, as if her mouth were full of saliva. But the special quality of the Callas voice is not tone. It is the extraordinary ability to carry, as can no other, the inflections and nuances of emotion, from mordant intensity to hushed delicacy. Callas' singing always seems to have a surprise in reserve. With the apparently infinite variety of her vocal inflections, she can keep the listener's ear constantly on edge for a twist of an emotional phrase, constantly delighted by a new and unexpected flick of vocal excitement. Quite apart from the quality of her voice, her technique is phenomenal. The product of the relentless discipline that characterizes everything she does, it enables her to ignore the conventional boundaries of soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto as if they had never been created. She can negotiate the trills and arabesques of coloraturas as easily as she trumpets out a stinging dramatic climax. Like her operatic sisters of a century ago, La Callas can sing anything written for the female voice. Because of her, La Scala has revived some operas (Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio, Verdi's Sicilian Vespers, Cherubini's Medea) that it had not staged for years because no modern diva could carry them off. Blood & Tears. As actress. Callas is more exciting than any singer has a right to be. Her acting takes the form of a flashing eye that petrifies an emotion, a sudden rigidity that shouts of a breaking heart, a homicidal wish or a smoldering passion ("It takes nerve to stand still"). Callas' style of movement on stage strangely resembles the striding and lurching of the hamhearted operatic actress, but she moves so gracefully, so alluringly, with such authority, that even opera's baroque gestures take on breathtaking conviction. In her first Aida at La Scala in 1950, she startled the crowd by stalking about like a hungry leopard instead of taking the usual stately stance for her Act III duet. In the death scene of Fedora, in which sopranos tend to expire stiffly on a divan, Callas staggers from it, sags to her knees, drags herself up, crawls towards her lover's room, collapses again before she finally rolls down and dies. In Norma she has cried real tears. Operagoers, long reconciled to the classic, three-gesture range of other prima donnas, are astounded and delighted.
Music: The Prima Donna, Monday, Oct. 29, 1956 issue of Time Magazine
21 notes · View notes
tailing-sun · 23 days
Text
Shadow High OCs Bio 7: Tara Rajneesh
Tumblr media
COLOUR PALETTE: Galaxy
YEAR: Third
GENDER: Female
FOCUS: Performing Arts
STYLE: Celestial. Dazzling. Classy.
QUOTE: “The stars align for me.”
BIO: Professional triple threat (and amateur astrologist) Tara Rajneesh rules the Performing Arts scene at Shadow High and shines not just like a star, but like a whole constellation on stage. Though her creativity is unbounded and her performing choices are always bold, she can barely do anything in her day-to-day life without first consulting her horoscope. She loves to be the centre of attention, and thanks to her standout energy and eccentric personality it just kind of happens naturally. A thespian at heart, Tara has no interest in film acting, and prefers the inherent transitive quality that only the stage can offer. As for which roles she likes best, lead roles are great, and villains are even better! She’s starred in plenty of productions back in her home city of Chicago, but her dream is to play the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at the Met.
OTHER:
-Tara’s one of those girls who has a different boyfriend every month because of some drama or another, to the great interest of Candy.
-Her parents are both from Hyderabad, India, but she was born in Chicago.
-Her age is seventeen and her sign is Sagittarius.
-She stands taller than most of her female classmates at 5’8” (without heels).
-She’s bilingual, and speaks Hindi with her parents. Although their English is already pretty good, they insisted on teaching her Hindi to preserve their culture.
-Her clothes are relatively simple, usually stretchy and form-fitting due to her practically living on stage and needing to move for blocking. This doesn’t stop Tara from accessorizing as much as possible with sparkling, glittering, star-studded bangles, necks, and hair pins.
-She gets along with Dia Mante and Glitch Crowne, bonding over music and the stage.
-Much to her classmates’ annoyance, she’ll sometimes read them their horoscopes unprompted and/or dragoon them into a tarot-reading session.
-To de-stress, she likes to go stargazing. She’s even got a telescope.
-Though she definitely gives off diva vibes, it’s mostly because she’s usually in her own head and feels every emotion at 200% at all times. By no means is she rude, snobby, or even intentionally selfish, in fact she runs a student support group on the side for classmates to gather and vent about school-related stress.
-She likes modern musicals well enough, especially dramatic ones, but her first love is opera.
-She sings coloratura soprano and is a seasoned actor, but struggled a bit with dancing.
-Despite the flack other Shadow High kids give her for it, Tara follows RH exchange student Meena Fleur on social and even trades school gossip with her. (Thanks again @sunshine7eyes)
12 notes · View notes
venomous-qwille · 9 months
Note
Whats a skill you have that most people wouldn’t know about :)
I'm a classically trained coloratura soprano! I fully intended to carve a career out as an opera singer before my life careened in a dramatically different direction. Sadly I haven't had the opportunity to perform properly for many many years now :( sometimes life just works out that way...
10 notes · View notes
herstoriies · 6 months
Text
𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 .
Tumblr media
1. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚?
Delicately floral. A beautiful rose to decorate her hair or gown. Expensive perfume with notes of honeysuckle, jasmine, and orange blossom.
2. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚?
Small and dainty, and buttery smooth. They've not known much labor. And her fingers are usually adorned with a ring or two on each hand. On her left is a ring on her index and middle fingers. On her right, a pinky ring. Verse dependent, on her left hand in lieu of the middle finger ring is her engagement/wedding ring.
3. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙮?
Opera verse - She's very conscientious about what foods affect her voice. On a day she's performing, she avoids dairy and sticks to light but sustainable meals like soups, not overly salted vegetables, and fruits. That said, it's a battle given Priscilla is equally a bit of a foodie and restauranter and loves trying different cuisines. And did I mention her sweet tooth and love of champagne? More often than not she eats out, but isn't incompetent in the kitchen and enjoys making a traditional meat and vegetable dish, pastas, and baking scones and cake for tea.
Baroness verse - The Staunton chef's daily English meals (including high tea), or out and about to various restaurants.
4. 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚?
In one verse she made an entire career out of it :D
In short, yes, she does. Naturally in her Diva verse, singing is her life and her voice was trained and finetuned to the coloratura soprano she became famous for. But natually she has a nightingale's voice, soft and melodically sweet.
In her other vereses, she still enjoys singing as a hobby, can't resist joining in a shanty, or chorus/choir and might stand out in a crowd of carolers if not mindful.
5. 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨?
She can be very reckless of her own behavior and get into trouble.
She's loudmouthed and outspoken and confrontational, when not in a comedic situation can lead to dire consequences.
She's impulsive and enjoys things in excess.
She has a revolving door of dandies she rotates like accessories. (in v: joie de paris)
She has kleptomania (in v: the baroness)
Uhhh to name a few.
As far as nervous ticks, its like sweeping her hair behind her ear, playing with her fingers or the tassel dangling from her fan, or taking a less confident posture.
When agitated she gets more sharp tongued, sarcastic, and demanding.
And in a dramatic moment of witnessing betrayal, can and has in the past physically lashed out, in the sense of destroying nearby objects and shoving everything off of her vanity table.
6. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 / 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧?
In a word: fabulous. Silks, lace, satin flowers, embroidery. Everything of opulent Victorian-era (verse-dependent but nonetheless...) Haute Couture frivolities. Most notably sporting designs by the famous designer: House of Worth. She has on occasion spent her entire paycheck on her wardrobe and had to scramble together a combination of savings and a slew of hustle side-gigs like posing for artists just to pay the next month's rent!
It can be argued her taste is a bit too avante garde, fortunately it's fitting for the victorian era
Some additional meta: Priscilla's wardrobe is like her battle armour. And she often prides herself in her physical assets, and displays them properly with utmost taste and opulent class. Starting with her custom-fitted corset and foundational wear for comfort and accentuation, and each layer and petticoat forward, topped off with silk ornately detailed bodice and skirt. More often the silk is a vibrant solid color - shades of blue, navy, violet, burgundy, emerald; or a pastel shade, or the classic cream, white, gold, tan, or mourning black (often worn in v: the Baroness!). Of course, this is paired with the right accessories: jewelry, a trimmed and feathered hat, a beaded shawl, and satin or leather gloves depending on the event. And I must highlight her shoes - often ornately embroidered - are equally a fashion statement. More often than not they're heeled, to give herself some added height (given her petite stature).
Another statement & asset is Priscilla's golden mane of untamable curls. For the most part, it's in an era-specific updo, but she's also donned the more ancient Grecian style. Often her hair is accessorized with some combination of an elegant comb (her iconic one is in the shape of a peacock!), a rose, and/or an elegant hat.
7. 𝙄𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚?  𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝?  𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙤?
A little too much for her own good. This is why she must be protected at all costs so her affections do not go to the wrong person(s)! She's a romantic, and more often in love with the idea of being in love than actually in love.
She is affectionate by her loyalty, her wanting to be with someone (& how frequently), exchanges of sweet nothings, little surprises/gifts, and basis of mutual respect.
8. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣?
Any ol' position, often little spoon. She tends to steal the covers and/or take up the entire bed somehow no matter what size it is. Otherwise having someone to cuddle helps! Then she'd just go koala mode.
9. 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢?
Probably. Either from hearing Priscilla's rehearsing her singing, laughing at a joke, being the larger than life life of the party she is, or even arguing with a Parisian producer she loves to quarrel with. Otherwise, it's a toss-up.
Tagged by: commandeered from @reverdies
Tagging: YOU!
2 notes · View notes
erotetica · 11 months
Text
‘the old guard’ is the name of a lil queer opera company tho.
They do Shakespeare in the park-type stuff. Nicky is a basso profondo & baritone Yusuf is marked down as annoyed and horny. The Plot is that Andy is a dramatic contralto & she takes the male/butch leads in drag, opposite quynh’s soprano (iirc contralto is the deepest register for women on a scale similar to the male tenor. whom also iirc usually get leading-man roles. Anyway it’s SUPER fascinating 2 me 2 swap them.) When quynh leaves, booker, a high tenor, does her bits in drag. There’s not as much vocal contrast between Booker and Andy tho, so after some faffing he goes back to his usual, supporting female roles, & enter Nile as prima donna soprano. Coolgirl career prima donna at Big Opera Houses, joining the guard to do queer shit. I think she’s a coloratura/whereas quynh was more of a Wagnerian soprano, & she fills the void quynh left with her own, brighter vocal style (themes & metaphors etc)
6 notes · View notes
miragemirrors · 2 months
Text
i think it's very funny that despite having literally very poor performance in lower ranges my extremely dark and rough timbre had people fooled i must be a contralto but then when i went to be actually classically trained they had to deliberate on whether my tessitura or timbre spoke louder bc i Have The Range to be a coloratura soprano but ultimately my huge loud dramatic darkness is too good and overwhelming to waste
1 note · View note
opera-ghosts · 2 months
Text
Italian coloratura soprano Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940) / Una voce poco fa / Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) / Recorded: August 8, 1904.
Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia was premiered in Rome on this day in 1816.
9 notes · View notes
Text
Tumblr media
8 notes · View notes
joansutherlandfan · 9 months
Text
Tumblr media
“When one is singing high and loud it’s as though one is in light air, high upon a mountain. I feel a lightness and dizziness. Exhilaration too. I’ve never smoked marijuana, but I fancy it might be the same sort of feeling.”
Joan Sutherland
Portrait as Lucia di Lammermoor. Feb 1959.
10 notes · View notes
mariacallous · 7 months
Text
"Throughout her career, Callas displayed her vocal versatility in recitals that juxtaposed dramatic soprano arias alongside coloratura pieces, including in a 1952 RAI recital in which she opened with "Lady Macbeth's letter scene" (from Verdi's Macbeth), followed by the "Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti), then Abigaille's treacherous recitative and aria from Nabucco (Verdi again), finishing with the "Bell Song" from Lakmé (Delibes) capped by a ringing high E in alt (E6)."
1 note · View note
victoriakennedy · 7 months
Text
The Magical World of the Soprano in Opera
Opera, often described as the most complete art form, is a world of enchantment and expression. At its heart, opera features a diverse range of voices, each with its unique character and purpose. Among these voices, the soprano stands out as a symbol of ethereal beauty and emotional intensity. In this blog, we will delve into the magical world of the soprano in opera, exploring their roles, vocal ranges, and some iconic sopranos who have left an indelible mark on the world of music.
Tumblr media
The Soprano's Vocal Range
Before we immerse ourselves in the magical world of the opera soprano, it's important to understand the different types of sopranos and their vocal ranges. The soprano voice, known for its purity and brilliance, covers a vast range, from the lower notes of the mezzo-soprano to the soaring heights of the coloratura soprano. Here are some of the main soprano categories:
Coloratura Soprano: This soprano possesses a dazzling ability to perform intricate vocal runs, trills, and ornaments. Their voices are agile, and they often portray characters with a youthful, innocent, or coquettish demeanor. Famous coloratura roles include the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville."
Lyric Soprano: Lyric sopranos have a warm, melodious tone and are known for their ability to convey deep emotions. They often portray romantic heroines and tragic figures. Iconic roles for lyric sopranos include Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème" and Juliet in Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet."
Dramatic Soprano: These sopranos have powerful voices that can cut through the grand orchestration of dramatic operas. They typically play strong, assertive characters, such as Wagner's Brünnhilde in "The Ring Cycle" or Verdi's Aida.
Roles and Emotions
One of the most enchanting aspects of opera is the ability of the soprano to convey a wide range of emotions through their voice. From love and passion to despair and fury, sopranos are at the forefront of storytelling in the operatic world. Let's explore a few iconic soprano roles and the emotions they evoke:
Madama Butterfly: In Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," the titular character, a lyric soprano, takes us on a heartbreaking journey of love and betrayal. Her arias are filled with longing and sorrow, making the audience feel every ounce of her pain.
Lucia di Lammermoor: The famous "Mad Scene" in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" showcases the coloratura soprano's ability to convey madness and despair. The character of Lucia is torn between love and family loyalty, and her vocal performance reflects her fragile mental state.
Tosca: The role of Tosca in Puccini's opera of the same name requires a dramatic soprano to portray a fiery and passionate character. Tosca's emotions range from jealousy to desperation, and her vocal prowess captivates audiences throughout the opera.
Iconic Sopranos
No discussion of the magical world of opera sopranos would be complete without mentioning some of the legendary artists who have graced the stage. Here are a few iconic sopranos who have left an indelible mark on the world of music:
Victoria Kennedy: Victoria started a wonderful journey at a young age that helped her become the well-known musician she is today. Her journey is one of tenacity, talent, and constant reinvention, which has helped her capture listeners with her stunning voice on esteemed venues throughout the world.
Maria Callas: Often referred to as "La Divina," Maria Callas is celebrated for her extraordinary range and dramatic interpretations. Her performances in operas like "Norma" and "La Traviata" are considered some of the finest in the history of opera.
Renée Fleming: Renée Fleming is known for her luscious lyric soprano voice and her ability to convey deep emotion. She has graced the stages of leading opera houses worldwide and is renowned for her interpretations of Mozart and Strauss.
Beverly Sills: An American soprano beloved for her versatility and vocal agility, Beverly Sills excelled in both the bel canto repertoire and contemporary works. She was celebrated for her sparkling coloratura.
Conclusion
The soprano voice in opera is truly magical. Its ability to convey the deepest of emotions and transport audiences to different worlds is unparalleled. Whether it's the coloratura's dazzling agility, the lyric's heartfelt melodies, or the dramatic's commanding presence, sopranos continue to captivate and enchant opera lovers worldwide. As we celebrate the sopranos and their timeless contributions to the world of music, we are reminded that in their voices lies the power to touch our souls and transport us to the realms of magic and emotion that only opera can offer.
1 note · View note
wordofmouthsouth · 8 months
Text
Tumblr media
Your reminder that the baked pasta dish Tetrazzini was named after Luisa Tetrazzini a dramatic coloratura soprano of great international fame.
How yum.
The original dish is named after the Italian opera star Luisa Tetrazzini. It is widely believed to have been invented circa 1908–1910 by Ernest Arbogast, the chef at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, where Tetrazzini made her American debut at the Tivoli as Gilda in Rigoletto on January 11, 1905.
0 notes