A Quick Guide to Important Opera Terms
This quick guide introduces some of the most important terms you’ll encounter, from the different voice types that bring opera’s unforgettable characters to life to common musical concepts you’ll hear throughout a performance. Explore the definitions below and click through the examples to hear these terms in action.
What is a voice type? It is a classification system that defines qualities such as vocal range used to determine which roles or songs would be a good fit for a singer.
What is a vocal range? It is all the musical notes a singer’s voice can sing spanning from their highest to lowest.
Let’s look at some examples of the various operatic voice types!
Soprano: highest female voice type – young boys may also fall into this category
Example: Musetta’s aria “Quando m’en vo” in La bohème
Mezzo-Soprano: middle range female voice type
Example: Rosina’s aria “Una voce poco fa” in The Barber of Seville
Contralto: lowest female voice type
Example: Famous contralto Marian Anderson performing “Didn’t It Rain” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
Countertenor: highest male voice (also falls in the female range)
Example: Tolomeo’s aria “L’empio, sleale, indegno” from Julius Caesar
Tenor: the next highest male voice
Example: Rodolfo’s aria “Che gelida manina” from La bohème
Baritone: middle male voice type
Example: Figaro’s aria “Largo al factotum” from The Barber of Seville
Bass: lowest male voice type
Example: Colline’s aria “Vecchia zimarra, senti” from La bohème
Common Terms
Click on the term to view an example!
Aria: A solo song in an opera or operetta (all of the above examples are arias)
Coloratura: Vocal writing that shows off a singer’s agility through many fast and complicated passages.
Duet: A song performed by two musicians.
Ornaments: The embellishment of a melody, either by adding notes or by modifying rhythms.
Overture: The orchestral prelude at the beginning of the opera, sometimes introducing musical themes to be heard later in the performance.
Patter Song: A fast aria with many words, usually funny and difficult to sing.
Tempo: The speed or pace of music.
Recitative: A free-style declaration usually “sung-spoken” as an introduction to an aria or chorus that moves the story forward.
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