On the Art of Singing II-28 'The Two Poles of Bel Canto'
Two factors to form the basis of all good technical singing are sostenuto and coloratura, literally meaning "sustained" and "coloring" in English.
In the form of the operatic scena, cavatina and cabaletta exhibite, in which the singer was expected to show the two chief technical facets of skillful singing: legato and agility.
These two vocal techniques are Siamese twins. One completes the other cannot exist without the other.
Examples of scene or "double arias": Handel's Piangerò. Mozart's Non mi dir, Bellini's Non mi credea, and Verdi's Ah! fors'è lui!
Sustained | Coloring | |
---|---|---|
Techiniques | Sostenuto | Coloratura |
Scena Sections | Cavatina | cabaletta |
Technical Facets | legato | agility |
Adjectives | verismo | pyrotechnical melismatic |