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Mezzo-Soprano

Antonio Pappano explores the great roles and singers through the prism of the main voice types. He continues with the mezzo-soprano, often the rival or the villainess.

Series in which conductor Sir Antonio Pappano (music director of the Royal Opera House since 2002) explores the great roles and the greatest singers of the last hundred years through the prism of the main classical voice types - soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone and bass. Through discussion, demonstrations and workshops, Pappano explores every aspect of the art of great singing.

The lowest female voice type, and the one closest to a woman's natural speaking voice, the mezzo-soprano only rarely plays the name part. But when she does - in Carmen, Samson et Dalila, and La Cenerentola - the fireworks begin. More often, she is the rival, and the villainess.

Antonio explores the particular effect the mezzo voice has on the audience. Her low, sultry tones make her voice perfect for the earth goddess, but also the enchantress, the siren. But she has to sing nearly as high as the soprano. So how does she do it? What is the 'chest voice' and what effect does it have? How do you sing ugly to convey the evil of a character without destroying your voice, and at the same time unearth some redeeming qualities?

Antonio finds out what makes the mezzo tick by looking at great performances from Giulietta Simionato, Kathleen Ferrier, Marian Anderson, Shirley Verrett, Cecilia Bartoli and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, and taking soundings from Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Joyce DiDonato, Felicity Palmer and Sarah Connolly.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Georges Bizet

    La-la-la-la, Carmen

    Performer: Anna Caterina Antonacci.
  • Georges Bizet

    脠 l'amore uno strano augello, Carmen

    Performer: Giulietta Simionato.
  • Georges Bizet

    Pr猫s des remparts de S茅ville, Carmen

    Performer: Grace Bumbry.
  • Georges Bizet

    Ja, die Liebe hat bunte Fl眉gel, Carmen

    Performer: Christa Ludwig.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Condotta ell'era in ceppi, Il trovatore

    Performer: Giulietta Simionato.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    So hopp hopp hopp, galopp lopp lopp, Hansel & Gretal

    Performer: Felicity Palmer.
  • Richard Strauss

    Ich will nichts h枚ren!, Elektra

    Performer: Felicity Palmer.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Das Lied von der Erde

    Performer: Kathleen Ferrier.
  • George Frideric Handel

    He was despised, Messiah

    Performer: Kathleen Ferrier.
  • Edward Elgar

    Sabbath Morning at Sea, Sea Pictures

    Performer: Dame Sarah Connolly.
  • Trad.

    He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

    Performer: Marian Anderson.
  • Trad.

    He Never Said a Mumblin Word

    Performer: Marian Anderson.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    O don fatale, Don Carlo

    Performer: Shirley Verrett.
  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Mon coeur s'ouvre 脿 ta voix, Samson et Dalila

    Performer: Shirley Verrett.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Voi che sapete, Le nozze di Figaro

    Performer: Frederica von Stade.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Riedi al campo, I Capuleti e i Montecchi

    Performer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: San Francisco Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza. Choir: San Francisco Opera Chorus.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Al lampo dell'armi, Giulio Cesare

    Performer: Dame Sarah Connolly.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Non pi霉 mesta, La Cenerentola

    Performer: Cecilia Bartoli.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Abscheulicher, Fidelio

    Performer: Christa Ludwig.
  • George Frideric Handel

    As with rosy steps the morn, Theodora

    Performer: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.
  • Gaetano Donizetti

    You murmuring breezes, Mary Stuart

    Performer: Janet Baker.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 2

    Performer: Janet Baker.
  • Edward Elgar

    Where Corals Lie, Sea Pictures

    Performer: Janet Baker.
  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth, Dido and Aeneas

    Performer: Janet Baker.
  • Nickelback

    Toreador's Song

  • Janet Baker

    Purcell - Dido and Aeneas - When I Am Laid In Earth

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Antonio Pappano
Executive Producer Mark Cooper
Series Producer David Jeffcock
Director Dominic Best
Producer Caroline Page
Participant Janet Baker
Participant Sarah Connolly
Participant John Copley
Participant Joyce DiDonato
Participant Christa Ludwig
Participant Felicity Palmer
Participant Peter Sellars

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