What Is Bel canto?

Description
Ever wondered where the term Bel canto came from? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Did you know that Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the Bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s? One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's Alcina. Her good friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century".

About Steven
Steven is a Canadian composer living in Toronto. He creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his website for more.

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Transcript

Hi, I’m Steven Hobé.

Bel canto literally translates to “beautiful singing,” and was a popular singing style in Italian opera. 

Bel canto first emerged in the 18th century, with composers like Handel and Mozart who composed operas and oratorios that featured this style of singing.

But we typically think of Bel canto as being spotlit by composers in the early 19th century—the greats being: Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini.

The term Bel canto actually has two definitions: it is both a type of singing and a compositional form. 

Bel canto singing is characterized by light, long, and intricate vocal phrases.

With composition, the orchestra is utilized as more of an accompaniment to the beauty of the human voice.  

But today this style of vocal virtuosity is applauded, with such names as Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and June Anderson etched in the history books.