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Opera Glossary (continued)

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maestro--Italian for "master." a title of courtesy, given, especially in Italy, to conductors, composers and directors.

marcato--the style of playing in which every note is slightly separate and the line is more emphatic or aggressive.

masque--a staged performance in which music, poetry, song and dance are blended.

mezza voce--Italian for "medium voice." when singing mezza voce, the singer reduces the volume so as to intensify the emotion.

mezzo soprano--the female voice between the soprano (highest) and the contralto (lowest).

opera buffa--Italian for "comic opera."

opéra comique--opera in which there is some spoken dialogue as opposed to grand opera in which there is none.

opera seria--a formal, serious opera, particularly prevalent in the 18th century.

operetta--light hearted opera with spoken dialogue, such as a musical.

opus--a single work or composition.

orchestra--the group of musicians which accompany a staged presentation.

orchestra pit--the area in front of, and slightly beneath, the stage where the orchestra sits.

overture--the instrumental introduction to an opera. usually incorporates themes which will be heard later in the the opera.

pitch--the location of a sound on a scale ranging from high to low.

polyphony--the mixing together of several melodic lines.

portamento--the smooth movement in singing or playing a stringed instrument from one note to the next.

prelude--the instrumental introduction to an individual act within an opera.

prima donna--Italian for "first lady." the female star of an opera.

prompter--the prompter is a member of the musical staff in an opera house who sits in a small box under the apron of the stage, intended to be invisible to the audience, and gives singers vocal cues seconds before they are required to sing them.

proscenium--the part of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra pit..

raked stage--a stage which slants upward away from the view of the audience.

range--the division of the human voice according to six basic types: soprano, mezzo soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone and bass.

recitative--singing speech, in which the singer chants the words.

ritornello--the instrumental prelude to an individual song within a cantata, concerto or aria.

romantic--the period of music between the early to mid 1800's and the early 1900's.

singspiel--German for "sing play." early German musical drama, which employed spoken dialogue along with musical numbers.

soprano--the highest female voice.

sotto voce--Italian for "under the voice." a musical direction which asks the performer to sing, or play in a subdued manner.

soubrette--a category of soprano voice or type of soprano role characterized by a flirtatious or streetwise manner.

spinto--a voice with a strong, dramatic edge.

spinto soprano--a soprano with a spinto voice.

sprechstimme--German for "speak sing." the singer half speaks and half sings a note.

staccato--characterized by short, clipped, rapid articulation.

stage right/stage left--the division of the stage from the performer's point of view; when a performer goes stage right, he moves to his own right and to the audience's left.

supernumerary--a performer who appears in a non-singing role.

tempo--the speed of a musical passage or composition.

tenor--the highest male voice.

trill--two rapidly and repeatedly alternated notes.

trouser or pants role--male character sung by a woman, often a mezzo-soprano.

upstage/downstage--the position on stage farthest or nearest the audience. when a performer moves downstage, he goes toward the audience.

verismo--Italian for "truth." a documentay style of opera involving melodramatice situations.

vibrato--the slightly wavering quality that a singer has in his voice while sustaining a tone.

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