The Language of Italian Opera

Italian vocabulary for vocal types, dramatic and musical forms, ensembles, and singing technique encountered in programmes, criticism, and rehearsal.

A curated Words list.

27 words

Italian · Experimental / limited support

27 of 30 curated words are in the development corpus.

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			Sense and definition
aria	Italian	NOUN	Sense 5 of 5 aria, song
recitativo	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 1 recitative
libretto	Italian	NOUN	No sense selected No definition is shown: the source records no sense of this word that is the meaning this list is about.
soprano	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 3 a singer, commonly a woman, with a register higher than alto and the rest of the parts: soprano leggero, soprano lirico
mezzosoprano	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 1 mezzo-soprano (vocal register)
contralto	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 contralto (female)
tenore	Italian	NOUN	Sense 4 of 5 tenor (musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto)
baritono	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 1 baritone (all senses)
basso	Italian	NOUN	Sense 2 of 3 bass (all senses); bass guitar
coro	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 chorus
duetto	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 duet
terzetto	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 1 trio composed by three vocal parts
quartetto	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 quartet
sinfonia	Italian	NOUN	No sense selected No definition is shown: the source records no sense of this word that is the meaning this list is about.
preludio	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 prelude
intermezzo	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 intermezzo
scena	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 scene (in all senses)
atto	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 act, deed
cabaletta	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 1 cabaletta
bel canto	Italian	NOUN	No sense selected No definition is shown: the source records no sense of this word that is the meaning this list is about.
coloratura	Italian	NOUN	Sense 2 of 2 virtuosic ornamentation of a melody
portamento	Italian	NOUN	No sense selected No definition is shown: the source records no sense of this word that is the meaning this list is about.
fermata	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 3 fermata (the holding of a note)
fiato	Italian	NOUN	Sense 1 of 2 breath
tessitura	Italian	NOUN	Sense 3 of 3 tessitura (most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a given singer or musical instrument)

Curated words the sources do not supply

cavatina — lyrical opening section or short solo aria. Not in the pinned sources: The pinned dump has a page for the curated target but no entry in the list's language.
acuto — high note or high register. Not bound: ambiguous in the pinned sources: The pinned sources record the word as more than one lexeme and the curated cue spans them, so no single binding is correct.
concertato — coordinated ensemble passage with multiple principals. Not in the pinned sources: The pinned sources record the word only as a part of speech the curation does not name.