Voice Classification

There are four vocal categories for the lower female voice in the Fach system. Here they are separated into the Seriöserfächer and the Spiel- and Charakterfächer. Follow the links to an extensive listing of typical roles and audition arias.   Part one: Spiel- und (and) Charakterfach: [ʃpi:l ʊnt ka.’ʁak.tɐ  ‘fax] Spielalt (Lyrischer Mezzosopran) [‘ʃpi:l.’alt  ‘ly:.ʁɪ.ʃɐ.’mɛd.zo.so.’pʁan] (f–b”):… Read More

There are eight different categories for the soprano voice in the Fach system separated into two main divisions, the Spiel- and Charakterfächer and the Seriöserfächer. Follow the links to both sound examples and an extensive listing of typical roles and audition arias.  Part two: Seriöser Fächer [ze.ʁi.’ø:.zɐ ‘fɛ:.çɐ] Lyrischer (Hoher) Sopran [‘ly:.ʁɪ.ʃɐ  ‘ho:.ɐ  so.’pʁa:n] (c’-c”‘): A supple… Read More

There are eight different categories for the soprano voice in the Fach system separated into two main divisions, the Spiel- and Charakterfächer and the Seriöserfächer. Follow the links to both sound examples and an extensive listing of typical roles and audition arias. Part one: Spiel- and Charakterfächer: [ʃpi:l ʊnt ka.’ʁak.tɐ  ‘fɛ:.çɐ] Spielsopran (Deutsche Soubrette) [‘ʃpi:l.so.’pʁa:n  ‘dɔ:ʏ.ʧə  zu.’brɛ.tə]… Read More

The basic categories of the singing voice, soprano, alto, tenor and bass with their intermediate categories of mezzo-soprano and baritone are the basis of the vocal ranges in the German Fach system. In practice, the voices types are further defined according to quality, range, volume, acting demands, and physical appearance. The first division separates each… Read More

When auditioning for a position in a German-speaking theater, the normal audition, either for an agent or an opera house, consists of one to three arias depending on how interested the auditors are and how much time they have. In this short amount of time, you must show both your vocal abilities and how the… Read More