We’re celebrating the birthday of Charles Gounod this month. Gounod was born June 17, 1818. Here, categorized by voice type / Fach, are some hand-selected texts from our database, along with recommended recordings. ARIAS Soprano Faust: Il était un roi de Thulé IPA Source: https://www.ipasource.com/catalog/product/view/id/254/category/557/ Recording: Maria Callas – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=288u-gTn7kk Mireille: Heureux petit berger IPA Source:… Read More
voice classification
Selected texts by Richard Strauss, hand-curated by voice type
We’re celebrating Richard Strauss’s birthday this month. Strauss was born June 11, 1864. Here, categorized by voice type / Fach, are some hand-selected texts from our database, along with recommended recordings. SOPRANO Dramatic soprano Ariadne auf Naxos: Es gibt ein Reich IPA Source: https://www.ipasource.com/catalog/product/view/id/1054/category/1234/ Recording: Jessye Norman – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H9LTixHHug Lyric Coloratura soprano Ariadne auf… Read More
THE FACH SYSTEM: The bass voice
With the possible exception of the Baßbuffo, there is no such thing as a lyric or dramatic classification for the bass voice. The true Italian buffo, the German Spielbaß, has a somewhat lighter voice than the other basses but still must produce a considerable amount of sound as he sings the lowest voice in ensembles… Read More
THE FACH SYSTEM: The baritone voice
Singers of the baritone Fach are divided into four categories with characters ranging from the light and agile friend and companion to kings and gods. The sheer versatility of the baritone voice makes the baritone a very busy man in any opera house. Follow the links to both sound examples and an extensive listing of typical roles… Read More
THE FACH SYSTEM: The tenor voice
Although we often see a division in the Lyric Tenor Fach, there are technically only five Fächer for the tenor voice. Here they are presented in the 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… Read More
THE FACH SYSTEM: The lower female voices
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
THE FACH SYSTEM: The Soprano Voice, part two
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
THE FACH SYSTEM: The Soprano Voice, part one
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